Upcoming Events at SW Hill Country

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 2, Ranch Party with the Mother Truckers, Merle Jagger and Mike Stinson. Cost is $15 in advance; $20 day of event. Bring your picnics, ice chest, lawn chairs, sunscreen. The Taco Lady will be on hand to serve a delicious taco plate at $7 per person.

The Mother Truckers:

The Mother Truckers are an irreverent, harmony driven Country band from Austin, Texas. They deliver authentic Country, featuring non-traditional lyrics and blazing guitars. From sin to redemption and heartbreak to salvation. The Mother Truckers tell original tales with their powerful blend of pristine vocals mixed with the razors edge of rockin? Country. The core of the group is the singing/songwriting team of Josh Zee and Teal Collins.

Josh Zee (vocals, lead guitar) has recorded 2 major label records with Sony's "Work" label, as the singer/guitarist and songwriter for the rock group PROTEIN. He toured with Protein extensively throughout the U.S. as part of the '97 Warped Tour..They also toured Europe and Japan as a part of an MTV Asia Summer Fest.

Teal Collins (vocals, ukulele & guitar) Teal's early introduction to music was through her dad, famous Jazz disc jockey Al, "Jazzbeaux" Collins. Teal has recorded sessions for Grammy award winning producers Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston) and Stephen Bray (Madonna). Teal has received Gold and Platinum albums for her work on Shanice (Motown records) and Third Eye Blind's album Blue. Josh and Teal met at a local Blues Jam in San Rafael, California, and would have a lasting musical relationship for years. In July 2000, they both decided to focus their energies on what would become The Mother Truckers. After playing around San Francisco and touring California for several years, Their journeys led them to the "Live Music Capitol of the World" - Austin, TX. Where they recruited an ace rhythm section consisting of Pete "THE BEAT" Langhans, on drums and Leslie McCurdy On Bass. They have been playing almost constantly in all the Texas hotspots, and have recorded a new CD ,"Broke, Not Broken" with a July 18th, 2006 release date. The new CD has been added to KGSR, KRSH & KPIG Freedom Radio. The Mother Truckers have supported such acts as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Asleep At The Wheel, Reba McIntire, Hank Williams 3, The Charlie Daniels Band, Robert Earl Keen, Shedaisy, The Flatlanders, Dave Alvin, Michelle Shocked, TheSupersuckers, The Derailers

Merle Jagger:

"Perhaps this L.A. based trio of sessionaires called their exuberant electric hillbilly experiment "Merle Jagger" because "Mick Haggard" didn't have the right ring to it, but the hybrid idea is clear and brilliant-fusing bluegrass, hard country rock and jazz into an instrumental cauldron that is unlike anything any of those individual genres has heard before. Driven by Mark Christian's blazing, lightning fast electric guitar, banjo and mandolin, Patrick Flores' bubbling bass and Brandon Goldstein's explosive drumming, this disc is a s***kicker's dream, a near hour of fast paced, raucous party music that flies in the face of much of today's ultra slick pop country. Think Johnny Cash on speed, and you're off to a good start on the slammin' opening track "Ranchero" and "Ranch Party." They crank it up even more for the appropriately titled "Hillbilly No. 9," which makes you wonder how incredibly rockin' the other eight were. "In Through The Out Take" is a little more conventionally bluesy, but "Trash Tornado" is a place where surf guitar wears a cowboy hat that just won't stay on. Even when "Granny Takes A Trip," she's flyin' off her rocker. Anyone who's ever loved country rock, modern or classic, will enjoy the trip; these guys do their namesakes, Mick Jagger and Merle Haggard, very proud."

-Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide, 7 August 200

Mike Stinson:

"Virginian Mike Stinson's vibrant take on old- school honky tonk music has made him perhaps the leading L.A. light of the moment...he's a formidable songsmith..." Chris Morris -- Billboard Magazine

Mike Stinson's style of music will never fade away or become passe because the truth is never out-of- date. Mike writes memorable heart-bleeding tales laced with pain, humor and regret, describing his straightforward sound as "Tear-in-your-beer honky- tonk and barnyard rock and roll." He's the rare artist who doesn't know how to be anything but true to himself. There is no pretense, no bullshit, not a damn thing between you and what's in Mike's heart. His distinctive voice isn't like anything you've ever heard before, and that's a good thing. He means what he sings. Mike delivers the message in such a uniquely authentic way, you're not gonna forget what he has to say anytime soon.

"Even if you've never heard any of the songs by the man described as the king of L.A.'s neo honky-tonk scene, you'll probably find yourself singing along with lots of them during his set..." So says the L.A. Times venerable music critic Robert Hilburn. The difficult-to- please rock journalist Johnny Angel recently hailed Mike as "very likely the best contemporary songwriter" in the classic country vein, insisting that his readers "catch a set and enjoy a master at work." Los Angeles Magazine also named Stinson Best Country- Western Artist of 2004.

Mike's lyrics touch torn-up heartstrings and you know he understands. "Everybody's got their own shit to worry about, and they don't have to deal with the black cloud you're carryin' around. So I try not to do that with people...but I do it in my songs." Along with Bob Dylan, Mike cites Willie Nelson, George Jones, Ray Price and Merle Haggard as inspirations. He enjoys working within the predictable framework of classic country song structure, but he sure rips it up within that seemingly rigid format. His words cut right to the core and shine a beacon on what counts. "All I'm trying to do is write a song in the traditional vein of those great old songs. That's the way they should sound. I think every line should count; make each one great or don't do it. When a song is a classic and it's got memorable lyrics, those are the songs that get under my skin. When I sit down to write a song, that's what I'm trying to do."

Mike has a lot of fans in country music, among them Dwight Yoakam who recorded Mike's homage to California's long lost magic --"Late Great Golden State," and put it on his 'Population Me,' album as well as the recently released 'The Very Best of Dwight Yaokam,' Billy Bob Thornton took a shine to the tune and recorded it for his upcoming album as well. Willie Nelson listens to Mike's first record 'Jack of All Heartache,' as he travels across the country in his bus. Now Willie will have a whole new batch of Stinson tunes to take on the road. Mike's latest, 'Last Fool at the Bar,' is loaded with more heart-shattering insight and beer drinkin' teardrops than ought to be allowed.

Robert Hilburn called Mike Stinson "one of Los Angeles' best-kept musical secrets." Not for long. Trust me.

Pamela Des Barres