… it’s my back yard! It’s the… (crowd sings here)!

What’s up, Everybody? Hope you’ve had a great week! Let’s see… what’s everybody talking about this week?

Don’t worry – no Whitney Houston comments from All Access Texas.

Ah… Who’s gonna top Pat Green? I mean, really.

“All Just To Get To You” continues to soar higher and higher on the charts, with no sign of stopping any time soon. Like Dan Patrick used to say on SportsCenter… “You can’t stop him. You can only hope to contain him.”

Will it be The Cody Johnson Band? Will it be Roger Creager? Or will it be The Eli Young Band?

Either way – there’s some kickass music within the Lone Star State these days, which leads me to my first ever vent on “Erick’s Blog.”

I was “blessed” (if you want to call it that) to have a conversation with a corporate executive that recently moved to Texas. And, of course, the conversation centered around Texas/Red Dirt Music… “The State of Our Union”, if you will.

This guy said, and I quote…

“Yeah, there are a few good acts that come out of this scene. But to be honest, any act worth anything will end up in Nashville. That’s the only way to make it.

“This is just a trend that’ll fade out eventually.”

… is your blood boiling yet?

What a toolbag. Kinda feel sorry for the guy. It’s guys like that who hide behind the corporate cloak that’s nearly destroyed our economy, flooded our radio with other manufactured ‘gimmicks’ that are guaranteed to ‘fade out’, and think it’s okay to fly the American flag half-staff to honor a fallen ‘pop singer.’

Whoops – guess it had to be said. I digress.

Well, Texas/Red Dirt artists don’t need a corporate record deal to make it and be successful. They do it on their own. They grind and grind until the word, ‘no’ is exhausted.

They don’t need a suit hiding behind a desk to label them as ‘talented.’ They have thousands upon thousands of fans that keep coming back to prove that.

Texas/Red Dirt Music isn’t ‘manufactured’… it’s pure, organic, and most of all… it’s true. That’s why we keep coming back.

If you’re in the Stockyards, look out for the cameras. You may recognize a couple of knuckleheads. Have a great weekend! Until then…

“We’ll See You on the Road.”

EF

Hey Y’all! Not sure if it’s as frigid where you are, but Great Googly Moogly – it’s COLD!!!

But if I can think of any better place to be than outside… is inside a dance hall rockin’ out to some Texas Music… and that’s exactly what we did this week.

In a big way.

Thursday, we hung out with Bart Crow and picked his mind about all sorts of subjects, including his undying hatred for a certain jingle heard on a certain commercial a while back. (Thought I was gonna have a stroke from laughing so hard.)

Then we made the trip to Nacogdoches to talk with Brandon Jenkins and Dave Fenley. It’s so satisfying, not only having the privilege to interview these guys, but to be able to hang out with them as if they were your best friend.

Both Jenkins and Fenley epitomize the cliche’ “good people.”

Garth and Brad got to hang out with Fenley and the boys after their show at Banita Creek Hall… and I’m sure there’s a video somewhere of what transpired. If you get the chance to see that… you’ll find how organic and pure Texas Music really is.

Thanks to the crew and management at Banita Creek Hall for their hospitality. They have one of the best live music venues I’ve ever seen.

Also, check out Dave Fenley and the Good Deal. Seriously.

Also, a special “thank you” to the staff and management at The Barn in “Nac.” The entire crew over there was beyond awesome (and “easy on the eyes”), not to mention they make the best Chicken Fried Chicken I’ve ever had. Brad had the Chicken Fried Steak, which was as big as the plate it was on… of course, he dominated it. Garth inhaled the Philly Cheese Steak – he believes it’s the best thing they got. Guess I’ll try it next time.

Go check out The Barn when you’re down there.

Coming up this week, we have the interview with Jackson Taylor for you. WARNING: Some of the content in the interview is graphic in nature and could be offensive to some viewers.

So if you have kids under the age of 18… make sure you watch it when they’re not home. If YOU are under the age of 18… don’t watch it at all. If your parents aren’t home… well, there’s nothing we can do about it. If you get busted, don’t blame us. We warned ya.

This week was what it’s all about, and why we do what we do! Keep it comin’, Y’all! Until next time…

“We’ll See You on the Road.”

EF

… not sure why that just came out. Guess I’m just pumped up!

Anyway – how’s it goin’? Hope your week kicked ass. Let’s see – what happened this week?

The rodent named Punxsutawny (sp?) Phil saw his shadow, so we got six more weeks of winter. But we all know down here in Texas that three of those six weeks could be dominated by blizzards and the other three could be confused for Cozumel. Any rate – spring time’s on the way.

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton confessed to having an alcohol relapse this week.

Sorry, I know he has substance abuse issues and has done a good job until this week… but did the media need to make it such a big deal?! It wasn’t like he lied under oath at a Congressional hearing pointing a finger at Supreme Court Justices screaming, “I never took steroids… Period.”

Yes, it’s bad he had a relapse, but this should have been kept in house… and the media needs something else to talk about… (get the hint, Erick!)

Ah yes – let’s talk about Roger Ray!

First off… THANK GOD he’s staying with Jason Boland and the Stragglers! He had mentioned this week he was looking for a change and to try something new… then just last night (Friday night) he went back to announce he had changed his mind.

Garth introduced me to him one night last spring and while he’s an amazing musician, he’s an even better individual. So Roger, thanks Man!

We were able to hang out with Robert Stowell – the reigning East Texas Music Awards Country Artist of the Year – last week and talk to him a little bit. Be sure to click on the “Interviews” tab and listen in. (By the way, the sound guy that worked on this piece was a badass! When you watch the interview, you’ll know what I’m talking about.)

We also got to catch up with Backseat Molly frontman Steven Callaway about what’s going on with those fellas… and if I could have spoken the English language correctly that day, we could’ve received an Emmy nomination (or not). That interview goes up next week.

The hits keep comin’, Fans… and I promise you – we’re just gettin’ warmed up! Our next newscast will hit the web this Monday, just in time to start your workweek. So when you’re moping about Monday, come see us – we’ll at least make you chuckle.

Also, hit us up on Facebook – “Like” us – tell your friends. It’s free, for Garth’s sake! (We say that a lot around here – HA!) Until then…

“We’ll See You on the Road.”

EF