Superfly's 1/22/14

The Hill Country Gentlemen performed at my favorite record show in San Marcos, TX tonight, and I had a ball! Played some great tunes with good friends, and then bought the new Sharon Jones vinyl. Afterwards, I googled the phone number for the Chinese food place just across the street from our show, called it and the lady asked, "pick up, or delivery?" I said pick up, she put me on hold, and then recording during my hold started telling me about all of their locations, including new spots in Long Beach and Pasadena. When the lady picked back up, I asked if she was on Guadalupe, and she said she didn't think so. I then hung up with California and called Texas.

Phoenix Saloon 1/18/14

The Hill Country Gentlemen when someone around all day I will go. hello you hello there you have it under that are not ours mainly a competition. You have to be underneath the sheets Hounddog. In August, you better route what who uses! No, I don't know, hey okay? It makes me laugh because it's Google to everybody who the girls squish them. Who yeah yeah we do where we are and what!!!

Tonight's blog post has been brought to you by Siri's speech-to-text function. She doesn't understand good music.

AJ's Ale House 1/17/14

Long ago, legend told of a man with the ability to flip sticks high in the air, and then catch them as if to say to the world, "The air above my kit is free from demons and monsters, for they fear the wrath of my wooden dowel rods!" The legend goes on to say that this man perished long ago in a tragic accident, when he tried to teach a new song to a bipolar whale, but I know that this is untrue. The man did not perish that day. In fact, when the moon is high, and the nonalcoholic beer is stocked, you sometimes can find this man playing drums in New Braunfels, next to my piano, for an extremely appreciative, packed-to-capacity crowd, as was the case this evening with the legendary Michael Gammon.

AJ's Ale House 1/16/14

Tonight in New Braunfels, Texas, I performed my request-based piano for some new fans, some old fans, and one man who walked into the bar already a bit over his limit. He came in late in the evening, requested "Don't Stop Believing", and then decided to take a nap facedown on the floor. After his friends stopped his nosebleed, they quickly escorted him out the front door. Then, after he was gone, the Thursday night regulars got right back into the show!

Saxon Pub 1/15/14

Austin, Texas was the site tonight of a great show with The Hill Country Gentlemen. There were a few people in the crowd who knew more than their fair share about things and stuff, and they approached us after the show to tell us how much they enjoyed it. In fact, it went so well, that we were invited to perform on a radio show with details to be announced soon.

Saxon Pub 1/5/14

The first show with the Hill Country Gentlemen of 2014 took place tonight in Austin, TX for a few lucky people who braved the cold to hang out with us. I had a great time performing with the Gents, and I'm looking forward to the release of a new Gents album this year!

AJ's Ale House 1/4/14

My brother, sister-in-law, and wife all joined me tonight in New Braunfels, Texas for my singalong show with Joe Resnick (drums). We had a packed house, and Joe proved what a machine he is to my family. They had fun singing with the crowd along to every song people laid on my piano. Thanks to all for another great show!

AJ's Ale House 1/2/14

The crowd tonight at AJ's in New Braunfels, Texas was an interesting one. They didn't particularly care what I played, as long as it was from the 1970s. So, I played every genre from the 70s, like funk, classic rock, soft rock, hard rock, disco, and country, with all songs written in that decade. Everyone left happy!

AJ's Ale House NB 12/31/13

Happy New Year! Joe Resnick and I joined a cast of hundreds in New Braunfels, Texas to ring in the new year right, and it was THE place to be! My lovely wife, Christine, hung out at the club, and snapped this picture of us entertaining the crowd. We had lots of requests, starting before we even took the stage, and we played as many of them as time allowed. The highlight was just after midnight, a couple got engaged in the bar, and I wish them best of luck in 2014 starting a new chapter in life together!

AJ's Ale House NB 12/27/13

On Wednesday night, I had a bizarre dream where I was running in a canyon, yet one of the canyon walls was made out of cement blocks. I was running as fast as I could, when I noticed two rattlesnakes fighting each other in front of me on the trail. As I tried to stop, my feet went out in front of me from my momentum and I slid straight towards the rattlesnakes. One of them had killed the other, and turned towards me to strike. As it lashed out, I grabbed it behind his head, and not knowing what to do, crushed it against the cement wall. Tonight, I found myself in New Braunfels, Texas using those same ninja-like reflexes to perform songs for the crowd, with Roger Glenn on drums.

AJ's Ale House NB 12/26/13

It was a crazy night in New Braunfels, TX tonight! I had a lively crowd, most of them giving me either huge party songs (Sweet Caroline) or random "B" sides of bands you've never heard of. They all, one by one, assured me that they would know every band's name of the songs I could play, so we ended up having a "name that band contest". I picked super-familiar songs by one-hit-wonders (like "Electric Avenue" and "Our House") and had them tell me the artist before I'd switch songs. I won the contest.

AJ's Ale House NB 12/14/13

Quite possibly one of the best nights I've ever had at AJ's in New Braunfels, Texas happened this evening with Joe Resnick on drums. The bar was packed all night long, the people were into the show all night long, and we received requests all night long! There were company Christmas parties present, lots and lots of birthdays, and people just out to have a great time. Joe, as always, was solid as a rock on the kit. I'm looking forward to performing with him again at AJ's on New Year's Eve!

Peveto Art Gallery 12/13/13

Adrian Lopez and I performed a Friday the 13th show at a cool art gallery in Houston, Texas, for Howl To Go tonight. The show went fine, but I had a very difficult time just trying to arrive at the gallery. A trip from San Marcos, Texas, to Houston usually takes me 2 1/2 hours. Tonight, it took me almost 4 1/2! Luckily, I left plenty of time to deal with Houston rush-hour traffic on a Friday night. I definitely prefer driving in the middle of the night when no one else is on the road!

AJ's Ale House NB 12/12/13

It was a little slow this evening in New Braunfels, Texas. Not many people were out on the street, or really anywhere that I could see. I did have quite a few people who decided to join me at the sing-along piano bar! They stuck with me right up until midnight, and requested tunes right up until the end.

Superfly's 12/12/13

Tonight marked the last show of the year for The Hill Country Gentleman at my favorite record shop in San Marcos, Texas; Superfly's! Jeremiah Sawyer could not join us this evening on bass, so I covered his entire career with my left hand. Clay, Troy, Kevin and I performed for about an hour, and then I had to run off to my next show in New Braunfels. Happy Holidays!

Royal Sonesta Hotel 12/7/13

The private gala event I performed at with Howl To Go in Houston, TX tonight was impressive! The piano portion of the show featured myself, Rachel Pas, and Tommy Richards. Besides the dueling pianos, the event also featured a live painter doing huge paintings on-the-spot, a full dance band with a horn section, a DJ, two trapeze artists and karaoke, not to mention many photo booths and food everywhere. I have no idea how many thousands of people were there, but they filled every inch of the first floor of the grand hotel. This was my first show with Tommy and Rachel, and it was a fun one!

Jack's Roadhouse 12/7/13

Today, I performed a 45 minute set for the good people at Jack's in San Marcos, TX to help with an annual fundraiser they hold to help kids in need called "Cooking For The Kids" for the Greater San Marcos Youth Council. Lots of items to be auctioned off, and a chili cook-off are happening all day today, as well as lots more good music by other area musicians. Go support them!

AJ's Ale House NB 12/6/13

New Braunfels, Texas was packed tonight! Vince played the drums, and I played the piano. We made a couple of birthday boys shake their stuff for the crowd. The crowd enjoyed it. I think everyone had a fun night tonight!

AJ's Ale House NB 12/5/13

Wassail Fest was held in the streets of New Braunfels tonight, while Joe Resnick and I pulled them in for our four hour rocking piano show. All kinds of tunes were requested and played. It was as if a revolving door was on the front of AJ's tonight with the amount of people who would come in, get a beer, request a couple of tunes and then head back out for more wassail. We had a packed house all night!

Triple Crown 12/4/13

The Gents performed tonight in San Marcos, TX, and it felt good to be back on stage with Troy, Jeremiah, Kevin and Clay again. We played about an hour-and-forty-five minute set, which included "Run, Run Rudolph" in the spirit of the holiday season. It was festive, especially since tonight was also the first night of "Sights and Sounds", the multi-day festival San Marcos puts on each year with the park lit up bright! Doesn't have anything to do with our show or the Triple Crown, but it still made a nice glow in the distance.