Dan Holmes Group News

AJ's Ale House 1/27/12

2012-01-28T12:28:00.001-06:00

Friday Night at AJ's in New Braunfels, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

New Braunfels, TX was a happening place to be tonight! Chris Wallis (drums) and I ran through tons of requests as the crowd danced and sang along. One lovely young woman ran up and gave me a request, then ran away. I checked the request out, and it was "Benny and the Jets", so I played it. After I finished, I began to play my next song, and the woman ran up, kissed my cheek, and at the same time, kicked my full glass of water across the stage directly into my left Chuck Taylor. So, on one hand, I made a new fan. But on the other hand, she made me play the remaining two hours of my show with a wet sock and shoe.

AJ's Ale House 1/19/12

2012-01-20T04:04:00.002-06:00

Tonight at AJ's in New Braunfels, TX had Chris Wallis and I playing tons of requests and celebrating birthdays! We had a small but mighty crowd tonight, and they kept the request flowing all evening. As we sang "You Can Leave Your Hat On" to a birthday girl, she turned slightly red as her friends (and I) took photos. Lots of Billy Joel and 80s music was requested tonight, so that's what we played. Cars, Phil Collins, Hall & Oats, Joan Jett, and more filled the piano, and Chris helped me get through them all successfully!

Hotel Zaza 1/13/12

2012-01-15T01:26:00.001-06:00

I met up with John (from the San Antonio Howl at the Moon) at the Houston U-Haul (behind the Houston Howl at the Moon) to do a piano-to-go show at Hotel Zaza for a Shell company party. We had a great crowd, and they had a widely varied selection of requests for us to play. Everything from Lady Gaga to Jerry Lee Lewis to Kayne to Billy Joel. The only thing which was difficult about the evening was loading in and it through the kitchen!

AJ's Ale House 1/13/12

2012-01-14T13:19:00.001-06:00

Chris Wallis (drums) and I had a great night a t AJ's in New Braunfels, TX last night. Fun show with lots of requests, including some obscure Billy Joel, Areosmith, Green Day, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Chris was on top of every new person who walked in the club by having the rest of the crowd cheer as loud as they could. I helped a couple people celebrate what they were celebrating, and fun was had by all. The end.

Tantra Coffeehouse 1/12/12

2012-01-13T02:05:00.002-06:00

Ian Lee (guitar, violin), Jason Wilkinson (percussion) and I performed a song swap show tonight in San Marcos, TX tonight. Ian would play a tune, then I'd play one of my originals, and Jason would keep a cool groove on either his djembe or electronic drum pad. I had a great time! Even though it was about 40 degrees outside, we had a full tent of folks hanging out listening to us. I hope that we can do more shows together soon. Ian and Jason are lots of fun to perform with.

Location:Tantra Coffeehouse 1/12/12

Westchase Marriott 1/6/12

2012-01-07T01:41:00.001-06:00

Tonight, I performed with Ed Conway in Houston, TX for the Texas Dance Educators, via a Howl At The Moon Piano-To-Go show. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, here's the skinny: Howl At The Moon is a request-based dueling piano bar, with locations around the country, and when a person or a company wants the Howl experience at a private party not held at the bar, we take the show to them, i.e. Piano-To-Go!Ed is a great player and easy to work with, and the crowd loved our show. The organizers of the evening's festivities liked it so much, they want us back next year to play even longer than this show!

AJ's Ale House 1/5/12

2012-01-06T01:29:00.001-06:00

Friday night dancing at AJ's, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

I played a show tonight in New Braunfels, TX with Chris Wallis. It started a bit slow, but the crowd came in and instantly got into the groove with us. We played the most varied song list I think we've ever done at AJ's. The crowd had a good time challenging us, and I feel we delivered for them! Chris, once again, stepped up and made my job easy! See you next Friday at AJ's!

AJ's Ale House 12/31/11

2012-01-02T02:40:00.001-06:00

NYE 2011 AJ's Ale House, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Happy New Year!!!
Chris Wallis and I rocked in the holiday in New Braunfels with a full house at AJ's. Lots of fun and cool requests were happening all night long. The crowd was there to party, and party they did. 2012 was welcomed by little party favors and requests for Prince's immortal classic, 1999. It was great performing the gig with Chris, too. He's a talented dude!

AJ's Ale House 12/30/11

2011-12-31T01:35:00.001-06:00

Another eve eve at AJ's!, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Our tale of New Year's Eve Eve in New Braunfels, TX, begins with the great Chris Wallis on drums taking the stage. Not a huge introduction to a tale, but the crowd loved his beats to the classic tunes they requested like Johnny B. Goode and Drive My Car! The crowd really was the big story, but I wanted to make sure Chris and I were mentioned in the narrative, so there you go. See you tomorrow night for more fun at AJ's!

AJ's Ale House 12/23/11

2011-12-27T00:15:00.001-06:00

Christmas Eve Eve at AJ's Ale House, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Christmas Eve Eve in New Braunfels, TX with Chris Wallis was cool. We had a big crowd, full of people who were there to visit family, and then go with said family to said family's favorite watering hole. We pulled out all the stops and tried to keep the party going all night long! Chris just keeps surprising me with his mad drumming skills, and he will return with me to AJ's next weekend for a couple of big shows ending with New Year's Eve!!!

Howl At The Moon 12/22/11

2011-12-23T15:52:00.001-06:00

Playing Bass at Howl in San Antonio, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

After performing at the Coffee Pot in San Marcos, I headed south to Howl at the Moon in San Antonio to perform a dueling piano show on the river walk. When I wasn't on a piano, I filled in on bass or drums, while the other players jumped on horns or pianos. Lots of requests and lots of people filled the club. If you still haven't been to a Howl, you should go experience it for yourself!

The Coffee Pot Bistro 12/22/11

2011-12-23T15:46:00.001-06:00

Ian Lee and Dan Holmes Christmas Swing Along, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

The first show of my fun-filled Thursday evening began with Ian Lee in San Marcos, TX at our Christmas Swing Along! We performed a bunch of holiday tunes for the crowd, and we even had a chance to sing happy birthday to Ian's grandmother who had come out to see him! Ian is a talented violin & guitar player, who also has a great voice. We're preparing to head into the studio soon, which should be cool. Thanks to the folks at the Coffee Pot for having us out to play a set for them!

AJ's Ale House 12/17/11

2011-12-18T14:47:00.001-06:00

Packed House at AJ's!, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Last night was packed out in New Braunfels, TX with Chris Wallis and I. Chris killed the drum parts of some pretty difficult tunes like "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen and "Rock and Roll" by Led Zepplin. The crowd really dug in and threw us some great requests. They stayed right until the very end, and then asked us to play longer! Thanks to everyone who came out to make it a fun night.

Cypress Creek Cafe 12/16/11

2011-12-17T02:47:00.002-06:00

Cypress Creek Cafe with Marc Benno, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

I performed my first show with Marc Benno tonight in Wimberly, TX at Cypress Creek Cafe. It started off with a bit of a sound issue with the P.A., but it was quickly worked out for a fun show. Marc played guitar and sang his tunes while Kevin (drums), Bennett (bass), Mark & Leon (guitars) and I backed him up. The crowd danced and hung out with us all evening! Cool!

AJ's Ale House 12/15/11

2011-12-16T02:19:00.001-06:00

AJ's in Marble Falls, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Thursday night in Marble Falls, TX was busy with requests for Joe Resnick and I. We had them up and dancing from the beginning of the night. Joe really is a great drummer, and he made it clear tonight. Fun show with a fun crowd made a long drive on a rainy night to and from the club from my house well worth the trip!

Hilton Americas Houston 12/10/11

2011-12-11T01:50:00.002-06:00

Dan Holmes & Greg Hejja at a Piano-To-Go Show in Houston, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Tonight I found myself performing for the folks at BHP, at the Hilton Americas Houston Texas with Ed Conway and Greg Hejja for about 1,200 people. Huge party with a band in the center of the room who played while we were on break, and a DJ in the hallway leading into the main ballroom where we were. People were migleing all over as entertainment hit them on all sides. Greg, Ed and I had a good time, and I'm glad the folks at BHP enjoyed the show!

Marriott Houston Westchase 12/10/11

2011-12-10T11:02:00.001-06:00

Global Edge Party for Howl's Piano-To-Go, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

I teamed up with Ed Conway to perform a Howl At The Moon Piano-To-Go show for the Global Edge Consultants Christmas Party in Houston, TX. There were guests from all over the world there, so the requests we got were much more varied than some other shows I've done. Ed played great, and by the end of the night, we had them all on the dance floor!

MCM Elegante Hotel 12/2/11

2011-12-04T11:32:00.002-06:00

Dan Holmes at Howl's Piano-To-Go Show, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

I performed with Aaron Beumeler at a Howl At The Moon's (Houston) Piano-To-Go Show on Friday night in Beaumont, TX. We were there for a company holiday party for Automated Logic. The show was great, and the crowd stayed involved from our first note to our last. Aaron really engaged the crowd throughout the evening, and at one point had everyone participating in a "My Bonnie" call-down. It was very cool to see 98% of the crowd eagerly play along and followAaron's every direction! I had a singer join me for a rendition of "Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay" which resulted in a standing ovation from the crowd. Overall, the night was a great success and fun for the crowd and us!

AJ's Ale House 11/25/11

2011-11-28T01:00:00.001-06:00

Busy Night-After-Thanksgiving, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Wooo... what a busy post-Thanksgiving Friday night in New Braunfels, TX! Joe Resnick and I held the crowd in the bar for a solid three hours while playing their requests. Every seat was full by 10p, and we had several birthdays and bachlorette parties out to celebrate, so the show got very crazy very quickly. My thanks to Joe for being such a big help by keeping the show moving forward!

AJ's Ale House 11/23/11

2011-11-24T07:42:00.001-06:00

Night Before Thanksgiving at AJ's, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

The night before Thanksgiving was a blast at AJ's in New Braunfels! Joe Renick drummed the night away, and was fantastic. I finally met Perry (the man who has mysteriously signed my checks for the past few months) and I received tons of compliments from the crowd! I can't wait for my Friday night return!

AJ's Ale House 11/18/11

2011-11-20T18:20:00.001-06:00

Friday Night at AJ's!, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

AJ's was hopping tonight! Tons of requests flooded the piano all night long, and the people were there to dance and party. Several birthdays and engagements made for some fun, as I called them to the stage! I'm glad I was able to help out tonight, because I was called in at the last minute to perform with the great Joe Resnick at AJ's in New Braunfels, TX due to Summer (one of the other piano players) fell ill. I hope she feels better soon!

Carle Wedding 11/12/11

2011-11-13T14:18:00.002-06:00

Carle Wedding Howl at the Moon Piano-to-go Show, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Last night, I traveled with Jeff Gaynor to the Houston area to perform an on-site, Howl at the Moon Piano-to-go Show for a big wedding. Kevin and Stacey were the happy couple, and their family and friends were ready to party and have a good time. We performed all the fun sing along tunes, plus tons of requests (including "Stacey's Mom", which was requested a dozen times). We kept them dancing and singing all night long, and everyone had a great time!

AJ's Ale House 11/10/11

2011-11-11T16:21:00.001-06:00

AJ's Ale House in Marble Falls, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Thursday night in Marble Falls, TX started off with people toward the back of the club, and as we played, they moved up and started requested songs! I had a fun time performing with Joe Resnick, and we ended up performing over due to the requests which kept coming up. Hope to see everyone again next time I'm in Marble Falls!

AJ's Ale House 11/4/11

2011-11-05T15:02:00.001-05:00

Packed House at AJ's Ale House, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Joe Resnick and I had a great time in New Braunfels, TX last night. Wurstfest was just getting started just a couple of miles away, so we were a bit afraid it might be slow, but the crowds came in for the show! Tons of requests and lots of crowd participation always makes the night more fun for everyone, and that's just how last night's show was!

One World Theatre 10/22/11

2011-10-22T23:26:00.001-05:00

Stauch and Carpenter Wedding at One World Theatre, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

The Stauch and Carpenter Wedding at One World Theatre in Austin, TX was very elegant. I performed with Pat Whitefield (bass) and Chris Wallis (drums) during dinner as a trio for the first part of the evening, performing light jazz and blues. Then, after the first three hours, we were joined by Rob Roy Parnell (vocal, harmonica), Ralph Ibarra (guitar), Doug Mains (trumpet), and Dan Torosian (sax) for a couple of sets of good music. Fun night all around!

Dog and Pony Grill 10/21/11

2011-10-22T01:33:00.001-05:00

At the Dog and Pony Grill in Boerne, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Tonight was another great weather evening show with Rob Roy Parnell and the band. My first time performing in Boerne, TX and it's a cool place for music! Good food while we were on break from a really friendly staff. The night was filled with blues and Rob's original material, and we even played an extra hour for the people!

Zipline Event 10/20/11

2011-10-21T00:42:00.001-05:00

Rob Roy Parnell show in Wimberly, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

A cool night in Wimberly, TX made for an easy gig on the patio after a big group's zip lining event with Rob Roy Parnell and the band. We kept the volume down, and the people danced with us for the evening. The band sounded great, and we were loving how lots of folks had glow sticks attached to their shoes. It was like a Rob Roy rave! ;-)

Hearthstone Country Club 10/15/11

2011-10-16T00:14:00.000-05:00

Hearthstone Country Club in Houston, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Jeff Gaynor and I provided a Piano-To-Go show via Howl At The Moon Houston at a very nice country club called Hearthstone. The people were there for a three day shootout golf tournament, and we provided the final night's entertainment. This was my first show working with Jeff, and he really knows his stuff. I've said it before, gigs are always better with well-prepared band mates! Thanks Houston!

Art & Eco Fest 10/15/11

2011-10-15T23:30:00.000-05:00

Art & Eco Fest in San Marcos, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

This morning, I performed from 10a-11a for the opening of the San Marcos, TX Art & Eco Fest, where the city came up with a great outdoor festival to engage the people in a healthy and fun discussion about the city's future and how to help the environment. Lots of music, food and vendors made me wish I could've stayed all day, but immediately following this show, I hopped in my car and headed to another show down in Houston!

AJ's Ale House 10/13/11

2011-10-14T02:20:00.000-05:00

Live Music in Marble Falls, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Tonight marked my first show at the second location of the Rock N Roll piano show club known as AJ's Ale House. I drove about an hour-and-a-half northwest of my home to reach the club in Marble Falls, TX. Very cool set up with a huge stage was waiting for me, as well as the very talented drummer, Joe Resnick. We played from 9:30p-12:30a, and then I rushed back home to get some much needed rest!

State Fair of Texas 10/8/11

2011-10-08T21:23:00.001-05:00

It was a beautiful day in Dallas, TX today as I joined up with Rob Roy Parnell and the band on the Chevrolet stage at the 125th State Fair of Texas. We played two hours of Rob's music, as University Of Texas took on Oklahoma University in the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl. Tons of people flooded the fairgrounds, which made for a fun afternoon show. Dave Milsap (on guitar) joined us for this show, and sounded great. Chris Wallis (on drums) and I were running on only a couple hours sleep, but the energy of the show easily motivated us. Coffeeboy (on guitar) and Pat Whitefield (on bass) filled out the sound behind Rob. Fun, fun, fun!!!

AJ's Ale House 10/7/11

2011-10-08T06:44:00.001-05:00

Chris Wallis (on drums) was back with me again tonight for a crazy Friday night show, which was an appropriate beginning to a crazy gig schedule for the two of us. Naturally, we had a great crowd who brought up some great requests, and Chris and I covered them all to the best of our abilities. But as soon as the show was done, we had to tear down as fast as we could so we could get back to Chris' house for about 4 hours of sleep before having to get up to drive to our big show tomorrow with Rob Roy Parnell at the Texas State Fair in Dallas! Whew!

AJ's Ale House 10/6/11

2011-10-07T16:31:00.001-05:00

Last night, the great Chris Wallis (drums) joined me for his first show at AJ's in New Braunfels, TX, and he helped me keep the people dancing. We slammed through every request which came across the piano, including some Beatles, Queen, Elton John and, of course, Journey. Sometimes, your first night can be rough on you, but not for Chris. He handled every tune I threw at him with grace and confidence. Good job, Chris, and we'll both be back tonight at AJ's for Friday night fun!

AJ's Ale House 10/1/11

2011-10-02T02:49:00.001-05:00

Interesting crowd tonight in New Braunfels, TX. Lots of different kinds of tunes requested, most all were unusual choices. A few typical requests popped up, you know, "Sweet Caroline" and "Don't Stop Believing", but so did "Fly Me To The Moon" and "House Is Rockin'", as well as "Get Down Tonight" and "Tipitina". Joe Resnick held down a beat for all the tunes with no problem, and the crowd stayed until the very end!

Chartreuse Hair Studio 10/1/11

2011-10-01T20:42:00.001-05:00

Fun party tonight celebrating the 2nd anniversary of the San Marcos, TX hair studio! I performed while an art show took place inside the studio. Lots of people came to wish the owners well while enjoying wine and Greek food. Immediately following my performance, a belly dancer took the floor to entertain the folks. Great weather and a cool space filled with nice people made for a great evening.

AJ's Ale House 9/30/11

2011-10-01T14:42:00.001-05:00

I was setting up at the club in New Braunfels, TX when I found out a scheduling error had been made for the drummer, Joe Resnick. He was sent to the wrong club, and was trying to make it to AJ's as fast as he could. No problem, though. It just meant that the beginning of the show, I played solo piano, then when he arrived, we busted into the more rock stuff. Good crowd, fun night, and Joe sounded great as usual!

AJ's Ale House 9/24/11

2011-09-25T02:13:00.001-05:00

Tonight was a party in New Baunfels, TX with Brian on drums while I played piano. A big bachlorette party was there from the beginning for bride-to-be, Kristen. Lots of fun with them, and also with everyone else who filled AJ's. Towards the end of the night, the crowd got on a big 80's kick, so the last 45 minutes sounded like a Kay-Tel double CD special of the best of New Wave. Totally tubular, dude.

Farmer's Market 9/24/11

2011-09-24T15:04:00.001-05:00

This morning, I performed for the San Marcos Farmer's Market on the square, in front of the Texas Music Theater. I couldn't have asked for nicer weather! It helped that I was in the shade, but it didn't get too hot until after my 10am-11am set. The folks seemed to enjoy my music. I had lots of great feedback from the people roaming the market after I finished. Hope to come back to perform again soon!

AJ's Ale House 9/15/11

2011-09-16T02:04:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody! Tonight was packed with piano players and drummers and drummer-piano players who all had a chance on the stage. First, drummer Mikey took the stage with Kayla, a new piano player to AJ's. Then, I swapped places with Kayla to play a couple hours with Mikey. Mikey let Kayla sit in for a couple of songs on drums mid set with me still on piano. After Mikey returned to the stage, we played a few tunes together, and then his lovely wife, Summer (who is also a regular piano player at AJ's) came up and took over the piano, while Kayla took over drums. Finally, Mikey and I took the stage to close out the night. Wooo hooo! Party!

AJ's Ale House 9/10/11

2011-09-11T03:00:00.001-05:00

Tonight was crazy in New Braunfels, TX! I had my first show with Brian (with an "i") Short, on drums, this evening, and he was fun to perform with. Every song I threw at him, he stepped up and hit it. The crowd was in a good mood and ready to sing along. For some reason, "Bennie and the Jets" was requested (and played) multiple times, and every time they'd sing along. Also, there were a bunch of people celebrating different things, and they all were great sports for letting me sing to them!

AJ's Ale House 9/9/11

2011-09-10T02:04:00.001-05:00

Joe Resnick and I were back for more fun tonight in New Braunfels, TX. We both agreed on how cool the crowd was tonight. Great requests, people singing along, and everyone was there to have a good time. My favorite request of the evening came from four guys out to have a good time who really, really, really wanted to hear "Walk Like An Egyptian". I did my best to perform it for them, and they danced, like Egyptians, for the entire song. Cool.

AJ's Ale House 9/8/11

2011-09-09T01:36:00.001-05:00

Joe Resnick and I played tonight in New Braunfels, TX for about three hours of every kind of song you could think of. Bob Marley, Beatles, CCR, White Stripes, Radiohead, Dr. John, Otis Redding, Van Morrison and so many more. The crowd arrived a bit late, but we still had fun with them. Joe can really play just about anything he wants to, and he proved it over and over again this evening. Tomorrow, we'll return for more mayhem!

The Legendary White Swan 9/6/11

2011-09-07T00:43:00.001-05:00

Our first night at the Legendary White Swan was cool. Not too many people, but that was expected for our first show from 6p-9p on a Tuesday night. I still had a great time performing with Chris Wallis (drums) and Pat Whitefield (bass). We are in the process of refining our sets, and this is a great venue for it. I'm hoping to build Tuesday nights into something special in east Austin. If you're reading this, come out and say hi next week! We'll be at the 'Swan at least through September on Tuesdays.

AJ's Ale House 9/2/11

2011-09-03T02:43:00.001-05:00

Folks in New Braunfels, TX were rocking tonight with Joe Resnick (on drums) and I as we played every request they threw at us. Joe's a great drummer, and he backed me up on everything from Red Hot Chili Peppers to Lovin' Spoonful. I made a few new fans tonight who were very gracious to us about our performance. Then, as I was about to leave the club, I checked my email and had a few new fans from Japan, too. Thank you to everyone for being so supportive of live music!

Tantra Coffeehouse 9/1/11

2011-09-02T01:19:00.001-05:00

Rafael "Coffeeboy" Ibarra on guitar joined me tonight for a fun show at Tantra Coffeehouse in San Marcos, TX. We played quite a few blues tunes and some New Orleans soul, and while on break, I had many people come up to tell me how much they liked what we were doing, and what a great guitarist Coffeeboy is. One of the cool ways we approached some of the tunes was with the help of the app Garage Band on my iPad. We used some swinging drum loops to accentuate our sound, and it worked out great. I look forward to the next time Coffeeboy and I get a chance to jam!

Coffee Pot 8/26/11

2011-08-27T00:02:00.001-05:00

Chris Wallis and I rocked San Marcos, TX tonight for a two-hour long set. This was a somewhat experimental show to see what kind of songs we might like to do as a duo. I had a great time, and Chris really showed what cool grooves could do to some classic tunes. I'm excited to work on this project with him, and I hope to see a bunch of you at our next show. BTW- Great food and coffee tonight at the Coffee Pot! If you get a chance, go have a sandwich...

AJ's Ale House 8/25/11

2011-08-26T02:09:00.001-05:00

I played in New Braunfels, TX with Joel Duhon on drums for a night of requests from the crowd. We played a little bit of everything, and seeing as how this was the first time I'd met Joel, much less played with him, it went great! He is rock-solid and was very easy to work with. I definitely gave him a bunch of different styles to play, and he tackled them with ease. The crowd grew as the night went on, and by the end, they were wanting us to play all night. Again, another fun show at AJ's!

AJ's Ale House 8/19/11

2011-08-20T01:43:00.001-05:00

Tonight, I played for the first time with drummer Mikey Gammon (who is great, btw) at the cool club in New Braunfels, TX. About the last thing I think you should do when you have a terrible head cold is to sing for three hours, but I did anyway, and Mikey was great about singing some high notes spontaneously. We slammed through a whole slew of requests, and on "Brown Eyed Girl" I asked Mikey a question, and when I looked over to get his answer, I realized I caught him on auto-pilot while he was watching a TV show where they were trying to get a shark off a boat and back in the water! We laughed about the Big Fish for the rest of the night!

AJ's Pub 8/18/11

2011-08-19T02:30:00.001-05:00

Other than the persistent requests by one man for the Scorpions, all of the tunes were cool tonight that the people wanted to hear in New Braunfels, TX. The "Scorpions" guy was cool, too, but for some reason, he thought I was just holding out on him. Finally, I convinced him that I really never listened to them, so he requested a bunch of Elvis songs, and the night was a success. Joe Resnick played drums tonight and made the evening way more entertaining for me and the crowd! I had the end of a cold I was getting over, so I was worried I wouldn't be able to sing, but the more I played, the better I felt. Ah, the healing power of music!

Navasota Blues Fest 8/13/11

2011-08-13T23:09:00.001-05:00

I drove in from Texarkana to meet up with Rob Roy Parnell, Coffeeboy, Pat Whitefield, and Chris Wallis to perform at the two-day blues Fest in Navasota, TX tonight. What a great show! All the guys were on their game, and we really kept the crowd dancing. The gig was great, but I wish we could've played another couple of hours. My wife took some great photos of us, and she did so while watching our little dachshund, Sammy! Before we took the stage, I had a chance to listen to a cool piano player (and his band) named David Egan. He really knew his stuff, and I've been listening to his CDs on our drive back to San Marcos. Good stuff!

Location:Grimes County Fairgrounds, Navasota, Texas

Zydeco's 8/11/11

2011-08-11T23:01:00.001-05:00

It was great to be able to visit with all of my friends and family tonight in Mooresville, IN while also getting a chance to play with a couple of my favorite musicians (and great friends) Steve Brunner on drums, and Bill Ritter on bass. Zydeco's was packed, and Deb and Carter made everyone feel great, as usual. I do miss the fun shows at Zydeco's, and of course, the food! We had a terrific crowd as we played through a bunch of New Orleans tunes and my original songs. I hope to get back to Mooresville again sometime soon!

Lakeview Manor 8/10/11

2011-08-10T22:47:00.001-05:00

After Bill Ritter and I performed for the kids at the daycare, we drove to Lakeview Manor to perform for the residents. My 101-year-old grandmother was in attendance as we played for about an hour. All of the folks seemed to really enjoy the songs we performed. Some of them sang along to the tunes they knew, and the rest danced in their seats as we played some 50's rock. Fun day of gigging!

SUMC Childcare 8/10/11

2011-08-10T14:40:00.001-05:00

I was reunited with bassist Bill Ritter today in Speedway, IN for a show at the daycare. We had them up dancing, singing, and playing a few notes on our instruments within our first couple of tunes. The kids always like it when we play Spongebob Squarepants, and we always like playing songs for them!

Evangeline Cafe 7/30/11

2011-07-31T02:10:00.001-05:00

Excellorators at Evangeline Cafe, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

The Excellorators took over the awesome New Orleans cuisine restaurant in Austin, TX for an evening of Chicago-style blues tonight. I enjoyed listening to the guitar solos by both Steve and Mike tonight. Both seemed to be on their game, and each seemed to be inspired by the other. Cool venue, great food and good blues made for a fun time!

Cypress Creek Cafe 7/29/11

2011-07-30T02:10:00.001-05:00

Rob Roy Parnell at Cypress Creek Cafe, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Brothers shared a show tonight in Wimberley, TX as Rob Roy and Lee Roy Parnell did back-to-back shows. I performed with Rob, and had fun locking in with Pat on bass, Chris on drums, and Coffeeboy on guitar. We played about an hour-long set of Rob's original material, then switched out for Lee Roy's set. Everyone sounded great tonight, and the house definitely was rocking!

Gruene Hall 7/17/11

2011-07-18T00:14:00.001-05:00

Performing at the legendary Gruene Hall, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Gruene, TX was rocking tonight with Rob Roy Parnell! We ran through all of Rob's tunes, and I sang a couple of mine through the corse of the early evening show. The place was crowded, as usual, and it was hot, also as usual. It didn't stop us from playing our hardest until the sun went down! Thanks goes out to my wonderful wife, Christine, for taking some cool shots of the band for us!

AJ's Alehouse 7/14/11

2011-07-15T01:38:00.001-05:00

AJ's Alehouse in New Braunfels, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

New Braunfels, TX tonight re-teamed me with a great drummer, Joe Resnick, who, the last time I saw him, was a witness to the worst gig I've ever had. Tonight, I feel redeemed! I had such a great time playing for the people and playing with Joe. The best requests of the evening, you may ask? "Summer In The City" and "She Caught The Katy". Love those tunes.

The Coffee Pot 7/8/11

2011-07-08T23:43:00.000-05:00

The Coffee Pot in San Marcos, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Friday evening in San Marcos, TX was fun. The crowd grew and became very interactive as I performed as many songs as I could, some of which using the help of a drum machine app on my iPad. I made a few new fans, and they seemed to enjoy my tunes. As an added bonus for the evening, the Coffee Pot had their piano fixed up so it played like it was almost new! Yay!

Go Dance 7/1/11

2011-07-02T04:17:00.001-05:00

Go Dance 7/1/11, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

The Excellorators played the blues for a huge dance group in north Austin, TX for a few hours tonight. I had a great time watching all of the twirling people have fun dancing to our tunes. Chris, Pat, Mike, Ted and Steve made it easy for me to just relax and play some piano by laying down some cool grooves. Those dancers were going before they got there, and I heard they aren't going to quit until 5am! Wow!!!

Tantra Coffeehouse 6/30/11

2011-07-01T01:47:00.001-05:00

Solo piano show at Tantra Coffeehouse, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

A surprise last-minute show at Tantra in San Marcos, TX was a blast tonight! I downloaded a cool drum machine app for my iPad, so I used it heavily during my show. It was awesome to have some old-school drumbeats behind all of my originals. Also, as an added bonus, the crowd was hypnotized by the funky beats, and they couldn't stop dancing. I had a great time, and I hope to be back soon!

Baker's St. Pub 6/26/11

2011-06-27T00:16:00.001-05:00

The Excellorators in Austin, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

I joined the Excellorators in Austin, TX today to perform some old-school blues. For some reason, there were almost as many dogs in the crowd as there were people. I think the weather was nice enough that everyone just decided at the same time that their Fido should come hear some blues, too. Ted Roddy had another commitment, so he showed up second set to blow some harp, so the first set was left to Steve, Mike and I to sing. Good times!

Taxi's 6/23/11

2011-06-24T01:29:00.001-05:00

Drumming at Taxi's, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Taxi Haskell's wife went into labor tonight, so I rushed to his club in San Marcos to fill in for him on drums until his sub could get there. I played from about 11:15p-12:45a, then I turned the sticks over to a drummer who knew his stuff! Danny was on piano the whole night, and he sounded great, doing all of the requests from the crowd.

A big congratulations to Taxi and his wife & new baby!!!

Central Market 6/22/11

2011-06-23T00:12:00.002-05:00

Central Market in Austin, TX, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

I had fun performing with Rob Roy Parnell and the fellas tonight at Central Market in Austin, TX. Because the room is mostly glass and metal, we were able to play very quietly and really lock in to each other tonight. The gig went off without a hitch, and I look forward to the next show at Central Market. As an added bonus, Stefano Intelisano (Jason Mraz' piano player) came in and sat in with the band for a couple of songs, and of course sounded great. I would like to thank my wife for taking some pictures while we played!

Taxi's 6/20/11

2011-06-21T03:53:00.000-05:00

Taxi Haskell and I played for a bit this evening because his Monday night entertainment fell ill. Always a good time at Taxi's! I found out tonight that I've been telling people the wrong name for his newly re-named bar. It used to be "J's Bistro" and I thought he changed it to "Taxi's Bistro", but really it's just "Taxi's". Oops. Anyway, tonight we decided to run through songs alphabetically until we decided to stop.

We made it through the letter "i".

Gruene Hall 6/20/11

2011-06-21T03:44:00.000-05:00

Rob Roy rocked Gruene, TX tonight! We had a great crowd, and the ones who weren't dancing on the big old dance floor were dancing in their seats. Pat couldn't make it, so Dave Wesselowski filled in on bass. I really dig his bass playing! Coffeeboy was on fire on guitar, and Chris made sure the beat stayed solid. Fun show! Thanks to all the new fans who introduced themselves to me tonight...I appreciate you!

Baker's St. Pub & Grill 6/19/11

2011-06-20T00:52:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day! I spent the afternoon filling in with the always fun blues band, The Excellorators, who have the best tip jar in town (see the pic, lower left corner). Mike, Steve, Ted, Pat, and Chris led me through their sets of great old blues tunes on the deck at Baker's St. in Austin in the 100 degree weather. I like just hanging back and listening to these guys as much as the crowd did, and I'll be back to join them throughout the month of July!

Taxi's Bistro 6/16/11

2011-06-17T02:42:00.002-05:00

Crazy Crowd at Taxi's, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

The crowd was out to have fun at Taxi's in San Marcos tonight! I once again, had a great time playing piano while Taxi Haskell showed the drums who's boss. Most of the evening was a backwards request night (meaning people would shout out a song title, then bring up a note after we played it saying "thank you for playing _____" with a tip). All-in-all, another fun night at the most popular sing-along piano bar in San Marcos!!!

Taxi's Bistro 6/10/11

2011-06-11T03:20:00.001-05:00

Taxi's on a Friday, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Cee Lo Green, Journey, John Mellencamp, B-52's, Little Richard, George Straight, Lynyrd Skynyrd, CCR, Nirvana, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Seger, Tom Petty, Prince, Al Green, Phil Collins and Garth Brooks were all personally absent from the show tonight, but Taxi Haskell and I performed all of their songs anyway. Lots of birthdays and anniversaries made the night fly by, too!

Coffee Pot Bistro 6/10/11

2011-06-11T03:06:00.001-05:00

Coffee Pot Bistro Show!, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

I played a bunch of tunes for the people hanging out at the cool coffee shop in San Marcos tonight for my first show of the evening. While I performed my tunes, a few local artists set up an installation for an opening tomorrow night. Good coffee and playing some of my originals for an appreciative audience makes me happy.

Taxi's Bistro 6/9/10

2011-06-10T03:35:00.001-05:00

Thursday with Taxi at Taxi's!, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Booyah! The crowd took their time arriving tonight, so by the time we started, we were already in the middle of our show. "Don't Stop Believing" was played...twice. A 21st birthday in the house had his friends sing to him. "Devil Went Down To Georgia" impressed the crowd with my patented mouth fiddle. Taxi ended most songs with "Sports Center". I had a great time just playing a bunch of random tunes with Taxi. Songs are always more fun to play with a great drummer!

Kerrville Folk Festival 6/9/11

2011-06-10T03:18:00.001-05:00

Kerrville Folk Festival 2011, a photo by Dan Holmes Group on Flickr.

Long day! I was on the road to Kerrville, TX by 1:15pm today to do a special performance with Rob Roy Parnell at the 40th annual Kerrville Folk Festival. Rob and a couple of other instructors held harmonica workshops for the past few days, and it ended with all of their students taking turns soloing with a live band (us)! We played a few different styles of music for them to solo over during the course of about an hour-and-fifteen-minute gig. 190 miles round trip; two hours to get there, three hours there (to set up, perform, then tear down) then another two hour drive home, only to be faced with the fact that this was only gig #1 of 2 for tonight!

Taxi's Bistro 6/2/11

2011-06-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

Taxi and I helped the madness along to its final conclusion of body shots off of the piano last night. People were going crazy requesting everything from Dave Matthews to Garth Brooks. As we played, another drummer and piano player came in to watch us and have a few drinks, so Taxi had them come up and play a few tunes. Summer (on piano) and Mikey (on drums) sounded great on the few tunes they did! It's always a treat when I get a chance to hear other performers, especially when they are good performers. Another fun night completed at Taxi's!

Wake The Dead 6/2/11

2011-06-03T11:44:00.000-05:00

A great coffee shop in in San Marcos, TX is a cool place to perform, even on a slow night. When I first arrived, they were having their espresso machine worked on, so no drinks were being served. After they got it back up and running, people slowly came in for the show to have a good time. I played about four hours, then it was off to gig #2 of the evening!

Shellers Barrelhouse Bar 5/28/11

2011-05-29T17:46:00.001-05:00

Shellers Barrelhouse Bar
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Apart from the odd guy who kept calling out for us to "play Usher", the gig in Cedar Park, TX with Rob Roy Parnell was great! Chris Wallis was gone for the weekend, so Michael Echart filled in on drums and did an amazingly great job. Coffeeboy played some tasty licks on guitar, and I was able to hear him really well in the giant wooden-floored room. Rob and Pat kept the show on track, and I enjoyed the whole evening...except maybe for the "Usher" guy.

Taxi's 5/27/11

2011-05-28T02:56:00.001-05:00

Dan Holmes & Taxi Haskell
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Taxi Haskell drummed his drums while I tried to keep up with the insane amount of requests being thrown onto my piano tonight in San Marcos, TX. We had a packed house and a huge variety of tunes, most all of which we tackled like rock stars. At least Taxi tackled it like a rock star. I played the straight man to his shenanigans. We took a chance to snap a quick photo right after we finished our 3-hour set!

Taxi's 5/26/11

2011-05-27T02:56:00.001-05:00

Taxi's in San Marcos, TX
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

J's Bistro in San Marcos, TX is now Taxi's! Tonight marked the first night he had his new sign hanging out in front of the bar. Taxi played drums as I rocked the piano for a couple of strong hours tonight. My favorite request of the night? "Hot Dog" by Led Zeppelin. It was a somewhat slow evening, but everyone there was great, and we all had a good time! Congrats, Taxi on your new sign/bar name!

Baker's Street 5/26/11

2011-05-27T02:39:00.001-05:00

DHG at Baker's St in Austin
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Pat Whitefield was decked out in his cool Rock N Bowl shirt from New Orleans today in Austin. Chris Wallis and I wore plain shirts. Well, Chris' shirt was a cool plaid, but mine was plain. Unless you count the ridges on the front of my white shirt, but I don't. It's pretty plain, but interesting. I guess I should stop talking about our apparel and tell you about our show. We played everything great, and everybody was happy! I like performing with Chris and Pat, and I look forward to our next Baker's St. show, where we will wear shirts.

The Big Easy 5/21/11

2011-05-22T23:05:00.001-05:00

The Big Easy with Rob Roy Parnell
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

For my first visit to the city of Houston, Rob Roy Parnell had a show at The Big Easy, which J.P. Whitefield, Chris Wallis, Rafael "Coffeeboy" Ibarra and I backed him. I really liked this venue. Very cool vibe and a great crowd, a crowd who liked to dance to just about anything we played. The band felt like a party on the stage, and I really look forward to the next time I get to perform for the good folks in Houston.

J's Bistro 5/20/11

2011-05-21T03:07:00.001-05:00

Rainy Night at J's Bistro
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

So on a stormy night, Taxi unexpectedly called me to come in for about an hour to fill in for a piano player friend of his whose flight was delayed on it's way into Austin. I went in and that hour turned into a fun two-plus hour set of request-based piano madness while his friend encountered not only weather delays, but some officer speedy delays as well. I even had a few minutes to hang out to hear his super-talented friend from Nashville play some tunes before I headed back home in the stormy night!

J's Bistro 5/19/11

2011-05-20T03:23:00.001-05:00

Taxi & Dan at J's Bistro
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

San Marcos, TX was hoppin' at the piano bar tonight. Taxi, once again, laid down a fat groove to every tune I pulled out. I had a request for "You Can Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac, which I played for the very first time for some happy people. It's always interesting playing tunes I've never tried before live. That one, thankfully, went really well!

Sun City 5/18/11

2011-05-18T23:58:00.001-05:00

Sun City with Rob Roy Parnell
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

We followed Rob Roy Parnell to Georgetown, TX for a show at a golf clubhouse. The horn section was there (which is always fun to play with) along with J.P, Chris, Ralph and I for that big band sound. It seemed like every table had a bottle of wine, and before we finished, the wine did it's job to get everyone on their feet and dancing. The band sounded great, and I look forward to another show with the horn section sometime soon!

Howl At The Moon 5/15/11

2011-05-16T03:51:00.001-05:00

Howl in San Antonio
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

My first show in San Antonio was great! We had several groups of people out to have fun, and fun they had. Lots of my favorite songs were requested which always makes the show more enjoyable for me. I would like to thank all the new piano players I met tonight for making my job easy. I dueled with Josh, and I hope to work with him again back at Howl in San Antonio soon!

Coffee Pot 5/13/11

2011-05-14T02:21:00.001-05:00

Dan Holmes & Ian Lee
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Friday the 13th in San Marcos brought about a fun show for me with a special guest Ian Lee on violin. We played a few tunes together, and then I took some liberties with the way some other tunes felt. I played really sad, slow versions of songs like "I Saw HewStanding There" and "You Are My Sunshine" and really happy, upbeat versions of "Georgia" and "Long Black Veil". Thanks to everyone who showed up!

219 West 5/5/11

2011-05-06T00:54:00.001-05:00

Injured at 219 West
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

I walked into 219 West in Austin, TX expecting another great piano show. I was wrong. Within the first five minutes of being in the club, the piano bench took a chunk out of my finger. Looking back, it was maybe a warning I shouldn't do the show. I then really enjoyed performing with Joe Resnick (on drums), and I played every request laid down on the piano. I will not go into details, but the added insult to injury was I left the show without being paid.

I will not be back.

J's Bistro 4/30/11

2011-05-01T03:15:00.001-05:00

J's Bistro in Neon
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Oddest request tonight in San Marcos? The 1980's version of "Puttin' On The Ritz" by Taco. Best request? I love the ones like the one I got tonight which said "Play your favorite song". Taxi Haskell once again tore it up on drums and made my job much easier with his backbeat. It was a straight, 3-hour, non-stop music set, and I'll be back at J's in just a few short weeks to do it again!

Barker's Street Pub & Grill 4/28/11

2011-04-29T00:17:00.001-05:00

DHG at Barker's Street
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Chris Wallis came back from Vegas (where all he won was a cold) and rejoined Pat and I at Baker's Street in Austin tonight. We had a fantastic crowd, and we played a bunch of new tunes for them. On our first break, I had a couple come up and tell me how much they enjoyed all the New Orleans piano tunes we were playing and then ask me about a few other Austin musicians, none of which I knew. They were surprised I wasn't "in the know" until I told them I had just moved to the area recently. When they asked where I moved here from, I told them Indiana, to which they responded, "I didn't know the bayou stretched that far north."

Best compliment of the evening.

Wake The Dead 4/22/11

2011-04-23T17:59:00.001-05:00

Dan at Wake The Dead
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

I enjoyed performing at Wake The Dead in San Marcos tonight. My awesome wife, Christine, showed up and took some photos while I did my thing. She even decided to challenge me by calling out some tunes for me to play, ones which she knew I have never tried before. Fun time as always!

Baker's Street Pub 4/22/11

2011-04-22T00:39:00.001-05:00

DHG at Baker's Street Pub
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Chris Wallis was out of town this weekend, so Pat Whitefield and I had the pleasure of working with Mark Hays on drums for our show in Austin, TX! It was warm, but not hot, so playing out on the deck was really great. The crowd was pretty into what we were playing, and I can hardly wait for next week!

J's Bistro 4/14/11

2011-04-15T03:50:00.001-05:00

Taxi and Dan at J's Bistro
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Sweet songs like "As Time Goes By" were requested tonight in San Marcos, TX, as well as odd favorites like "Hold On, I'm Coming" and other requests I've never seen. I had a good time performing with Taxi Haskell (on drums), and we slammed tons of tunes straight through for about two-and-a-half hours. It seemed like about every third table was celebrating a birthday, so we did a bunch of call-downs for the crowd. Busy night for a Thursday!

J's Bistro 4/8/11

2011-04-09T02:53:00.001-05:00

Taxi & Dan at J's Bistro
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

So I finished my show at the Coffee Pot and walked over to the show here at J's Bistro to perform with birthday boy, Taxi Haskell, on drums. We did one long set from 11p-2a, doing everything from Beatles to Journey to Guns N Roses to B-52's. All night long, the requests kept coming up, and all night long, Taxi and I just knocked them down! Fun night...Happy B-Day, Taxi!

Coffee Pot 4/8/11

2011-04-09T02:48:00.001-05:00

DHG at Coffee Pot in San Marcos, TX
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

J.P. Whitefield and Chris Wallis joined me to perform at the Coffee Pot in San Marcos, where we made a bunch of new fans. I like playing for people, but I really like playing for people on an acoustic piano! As always, Chris and Pat were on top of all the tunes, and as always, I enjoyed playing with them. First show of the night was from 8p-10p, then I packed up and walked half-a-block down to my next show...

Baker's St. Pub & Grill 4/7/11

2011-04-08T01:40:00.001-05:00

DHG at Baker's St. Pub & Grill
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

DHG played for a crawfish boil at an Irish pub on south Lamar St., in Austin, TX. From 5p - 9p, the crowd grew and grew to listen to our tunes. Chris Wallis never fails to impress on the drums, and with Pat Whitefield holding down the low end, they make a great rhythm section. I even pulled out about half-a-dozen tunes they had never played over the course of the evening, and they knocked them out of the park. I love my job!

Zilker Park 4/2/11

2011-04-03T13:56:00.001-05:00

DHG in Zilker Park
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

We performed for a crawfish boil in Austin for an early afternoon gig. The crowd rolled in as we ran through our songs, and the smell of the boil was teasing us the longer we played! This was a great event to benefit Flatwater Foundation, an organization supporting those diagnosed with cancer and their families with mental health therapy and support. We were proud to take part in the event!

J's Bistro 3/31/11

2011-04-01T03:33:00.001-05:00

The Party Starts at J's Bistro
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

After I finished performing about 3 hours of music at Wake The Dead, I headed about a mile north to take some requests for tunes, which I then played with the very talented Taxi Haskell on drums. We had a decent crowd and few birthdays in the house. This was my second week at J's, and I'll return in a couple weeks! Fun place, everyone should try to make it out next time I perform there!

Wake The Dead 3/31/11

2011-04-01T03:25:00.001-05:00

DHG at Wake The Dead
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

The guys sounded fantastic tonight at the cool coffee house in San Marcos, TX. We performed for the few people who wandered in, and took the opportunity to make some new fans (hi, new fans!). My wife showed up and snapped a few shots of us (thanks, darlin'), and I really enjoyed my night!

J's Bistro 3/24/11

2011-03-25T02:38:00.001-05:00

Working the crowd at J's Bistro
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

I jammed with Taxi Haskell (on drums) for the big return of their "Piano Bar Thursday Nights" in San Marcos, TX. I had a good time, and I had lots of great and unusual requests. Taxi is super-easy to perform with, and the people were definitely out to have a good time. A couple of birthday girls came up and followed instructions on "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes", and the crowd ate it up. I'll be back next Thursday night to party again!

Private Party 3/19/11

2011-03-20T01:49:00.001-05:00

Performing with Rob Roy Parnell
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Rob Roy Parnell invited me to perform with him, as well as with Ralph "Coffee Boy" Johnson, Chris Wallis, and J.P. Whitefield tonight at a private birthday party in Dripping Springs, TX. We ran through a couple of hours of Rob's tunes, and a I even sang a couple. These guys are really a talented bunch of musicians, and I'm looking forward to working with them a bunch!

Coffee Pot Bistro 3/18/11

2011-03-19T00:14:00.001-05:00

Dan Holmes at the Coffee Pot Bistro
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Only one small technical glitch with the pick-up attached to the piano made me stop about an hour into my three hour set. After I fixed it, I continued playing for the crowd drinking coffee and Taylor, the barista. I played a whole slew of originals, as well as some Beatles and Professor Longhair favorites. This is spring break in a college town, plus SXSW in Austin, so the crowd was a bit thin, but very appreciative, as was I for them. I'll be back soon at the Coffee Pot!

Gruene Hall 3/13/11

2011-03-14T13:43:00.001-05:00

Performing with Lee Roy and Rob Roy Parnell
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Rob Roy Parnell celebrated his 50th birthday in New Braunfels with a huge party at "Texas' Oldest Dance Hall", the famous Gruene Hall. He invited a bunch of great musicians out to perform, including his brother, Lee Roy Parnell. There was cake and a huge crowd and never less than nine musicians on the stage at any given moment. I brought two keyboard rigs (one for each side of the stage), and I rotated with four other great keyboard players all night. Lots of special guest singer/songwriters came up to perform with the band. As we were setting up, the sound crew was nervous because of the sheer number of amps and people who were performing together, but it sounded great. Sax, trumpet, two piano players, at least three guitar players, bass, drums and Rob Roy on harmonica made a thunderous wall of sound. This was a great introduction for me into the world of Texas dance halls!

Zilker Park Clubhouse 3/11/11

2011-03-12T01:47:00.001-06:00

Kira Withrow sings with DHG
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

My first official band gig in Texas was a bunch of fun. It was in Austin at the clubhouse in Zilker Park for a private party. Pat Whitefield on bass, Chris Wallis on drums, and I were joined for a few tunes by Kira Withrow, who sang beautifully. We ran through about 75 minutes worth of stuff on a cool March evening. I'm looking forward to playing a bunch with the new Texas version of Dan Holmes Group!