Confessions of a Soberish Blogger

It happened ...

I drank too much. I like to pretend this is how I looked all night.

I took notes for about 5 minutes of Josh Weathers & The True Endeavors and then became distracted.

I will see him this week in Fort Worth!!! Who wants to join me?

I guess this is expected when you hang out with old college buddies, right?

More to come later this week. Promise.

Luke Wade & No Civilians

Anticipation was overwhelming all day Saturday. It had been far too long since I had seen Luke Wade & No Civilians. And believe me when I say, you cannot get enough of this man's voice and the musical talents of the band as a whole ... complete with saxophone.

I walked up on the sound check at 11 p.m. at NOS Bar. The bar was hosting the "Official Ranch Bash After Party" so the crowd was soon to follow. For now, it was just me, Stella Artois and several others anxiously waiting.

The outdoor concert was on the verge of becoming a wet t-shirt contest, with the storms blowing in, so before their first set they moved all the equipment into the smoky hole in the wall, where Ashley and I took our seats at the closest table.

I love NOS Bar. It's look's like it should be pictured in the pages of an adult I Spy book. I spy a urinal. I spy a bra. Real talk though: There are bras hanging from the ceiling. Word on the street is if you throw your bra in the rafters and it gets stuck, you get a free shot ... the thought crossed my mind. Hmmmm ... Not enough booze in me for that one.

The band began to play and the drunken crowd softens in unison ... except the really drunk guy front stage cheering them on and blocking my view. I turned to tell Ashley how annoyed I was at the wasted guy, when I realized I know that drunk ass hole!

The bar began to dance and move when Luke Wade introduced a song he claimed, "gets the white girls dancing." Man knows his shit. About 10 chicks swarmed the stage and several tipsy stragglers, including myself, follow not long after.

My favorite thing about this band is their sound. Each member brings something great to the table. The way the drummer moves with the beat he's creating, it's like he is having a dance with his drums. The way the sax player plays with his eyes closed, it's like you can see him loving the music he is making. And Luke Wade's voice ... captivating and seductive.

Luke Wade & No Civilians claim the genre folk rock/pop/soul. By claim, I mean rule that genre. Some personal favorites: Ghost on a Wire, Eyes on the Horizon and Doctor, Please.

Do yourself a favor, listen to his music and attend a show. Luke Wade, who I have a hard time calling just Luke, is a jokester at heart. You will crack up all evening.

Do you already love Luke Wade & No Civilians? Tell me your favorite songs or a great night you had at a show with this brilliant group of artists.

This weekend, I head home to Stephenville, Texas, where I will be in cowboy boots and purple attire all weekend long for TSU's Homecoming.

Next week's post(s): City Limits featuring — Josh Weathers & the True Endeavors tonight and The Turnpike Troubadours on Saturday.

I'm so PUMPED UP!

I might get two out of this, if I don't drink too much ...

School of Rock

This past weekend was Arts Goggle, the twice-yearly celebration of art, artists and music in Fort Worth, Texas' Near Southside. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, music was in the air and people were everywhere (see what i did there with that rhyme? BOOM. Rap skillz).

It was a well-dressed day near Southside and my first stop for the day was Brandt Fitness and Self Defense, where the artistic beats of Johnny & The Delinquents were to take the stage at 5:30 p.m., sharp. I was running a few minutes late, so I figured I would walk up mid-set. I guess I didn't take into account that kid bands are timely because their parents are; bands of age are probably buying shots for chicks (like me) at the bar before they go on stage, which can cause delays.

As I approached the doors, I was taken back by the sweet, sweet (double sweet) sounds of insane face-melting guitar. My heart instantly began racing, and I swore I was about to walk into a muscly moshpit of crossfitters. Which sounds awesome.

Johnny & The Delinquents, with the Creative Soul School of Music, had their very first show that night and were absolutely excellent performers. The band consists of John Pence, 11, keyboard and vocals, Ben Wilson, 12, guitar, Thomas Crye, 10, on bass, and Kielee Dowell, 8, on the drums.

Shout out to Thomas Crye, the bass player. He rocked the house. There is certain spunk that a bass player has and Crye already has it!

J & The D had three band practices prior to their debut. They learned 4-5 songs to play for a lively crowd of 40+ people. My personal favorites they covered: Viva la Vida by Cold Play and Joy to the World by Three Dog Night.

Roscoe Justice, the student band director, commented on his talented students: "They're pretty amazing!" Well Roscoe, I couldn't agree more. What a great group of kids.

My next post: You get to hear about my wonderful evening with Luke Wade & No Civilians. Stay tuned friends!

My Excited Face

I am beyond pumped up about the live music I will be checking out this weekend so I wanted to make sure every one saw my excited face. Here is what I will be attending and what next week's posts will be about.

Friday, Oct. 12: Friday on the Green, an outdoor monthly concert series, is tonight on the Magnolia Green. Cannot wait to see who is going to be there. I am stoked to hear some new music! And BONUS there will be booze and food trucks. Double win. Friday on the Green has won my heart.

Saturday, Oct. 13: Arts Goggle, a festival of the arts, is from 4-10 p.m. I will be roaming the streets near Southside on Magnolia Street admiring the beauty and following the sound of music.

My first stop: Brandt Fitness and Self Defense, where CrossFit-inspired art will be on site, along with Johnny & The Delinquents, a band made up of nine to 12-year-olds from Creative Soul Music School, starting at 5:30 p.m.

After dark: Hitting up NOS Bar to see a band I have loved for years, Luke Wade & No Civilians.

I can't wait! Happy Friday!

Jeremiah Houston Band - The Soundtrack to the Greatest Idea in Fort Worth - ie. My Inaugural Blog Post of All Things DFW Music

On my side of Texas, it was the first day it felt like fall. Everyone was in boots, scarves and sporting their purple all over Funkytown, for the TCU vs. Iowa State game. The setting was simply perfect at Woodshed Smokehouse for juicy ribs, Rahr's Oktoberfest and the best pie that I've ever put in my mouth. That's 23 years of many pies, guys. Seriously though. Taste this with your brain: Fried apple pie with jalapeno.

It was an exhilarating feeling to accidentally have one too many beers (I'm being modest) and shove our planned evening movie to Sunday afternoon. With full belly's and OU's fresh victory on our minds, we claimed our territory front stage. Brock, Courtney and I had our feet up on a tree stump near a large fire pit when the Jeremiah Houston Band took the stage. It wasn't long until our shoes were melting from the heat and our boots were tapping to the beat. Like that rhyme? BOOM. Plenty more where that came from.

The band grew on me as the night went on. They joined us around the firepit after each set to shoot the shit and re-gain feeling in their hands. I loved the lead singer's enthusiasm on stage, the bass player's sweet soft expressions that looked like he was making love to his instrument, and the drummer's coy face ...

I had already made hazy, awkward eye contact with the drummer with the 4-foot-long ponytail, at the bar earlier when I took a huge swig of my Oktoberfest and threw my head back in utter satisfaction, "Damn it, that's good!," I shouted. I'm obviously attracting men from all sides of Texas ... Well, what Courtney and I referred to as "cheer sex" all night, continued throughout the night, and I'm not bragging when I say, it wasn't just his fault ***shamefully and awkwardly hanging my head.

The Jeremiah Houston Band claims the genre "Alternative/Country/Southern Rock." They had a great beat that you could two-step the night away to. In their bio on their website it says, "Many say that Jeremiah Houston sounds like a cross between Bruce Springsteen and Roger Creager."

Jeremiah Houston couldn't have said it better in his bio: "I really want to connect with fans and playing these Texas joints night after night allows me to do that. I don't mind running the roads entertaining people as long as we are delivering good music ... and we are."

Their music was upbeat, entertaining and had very interesting song lyrics. Personal favorites: "Get Ahead," "Trailer Trash King" and "She's Bipolar," which they jokingly dedicated to the general manager of Woodshed.

Do you love to dance? Their music is great for dancing all night to. You that drunk chick front stage stumbling all over the place to the music? These guys are the ones for you, sister! They were very welcoming to my drunk stumbling, and I am a woman who appreciates that in a man and/or band.

You a JHB fan? Tell me about a great evening of entertainment you had with this awesome group of guys.

Sad you missed them? No worries. They will return to Fort Worth at Filthy McNasty's in the Stockyards on Nov. 11.

Next week's post: I visit the uncharted territory of NOS bar to see Luke Wade, a personal favorite.