stoneposts

Upcoming Shows

2009-07-31T09:29:00.070-05:00

08/01 - The Tontons @ Cactus Music (free in-store)
08/01 - Houston International Jazz Festival @ Discovery Green
08/01 - Counting Crows @ The Showgrounds
08/01 - William Fitzsimmons @ Mango's
08/01 - Guy Forsyth @ McGonigel's Mucky Duck
08/01 - Charlie Daniels Band @ Woodlands Pavilion
08/01 - Beausoleil @ Dosey Doe Coffee House
08/01 - Shake Russell @ The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe (Galveston)
08/02 - Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson/John Mellencamp @ Woodlands Pavilion
08/04 - The Legendary Shack Shakers/Bobby Bare Jr. @ Rudyard's
08/04 - Billy Joe Shaver @ Dosey Doe's
08/04 - Jon Hogan @ Last Concert Cafe
08/05 - Jason Boland @ Firehouse Saloon
08/05 - Adam Carroll @ Puffabellys
08/07 - Two Tons of Steel @ Firehouse Saloon
08/07 - Bonnie Bishop @ the Mucky Duck
08/08-08/09 - Free Press Summer Fest @ Eleanor Tinsley Park
08/08 - Franz Ferdinand @ Toyota Center
08/08 - Chris Isaak @ Verizon Theater
08/08 - Sisters Morales @ the Mucky Duck
08/08 - Bob Schneider/T-Bird & the Breaks @ Warehouse Live
08/09 - Hamilton Loomis @ the Mucky Duck
08/11 - Lise Liddell/Lance Smith/Mike Stinson/Teresa Kolo @ the Mucky Duck
08/12 - Gary P. Nunn @ Puffabellys
08/14 - Stoney LaRue @ Firehouse Saloon
08/14 - Toni Price @ the Mucky Duck
08/14 - Adam Carroll/Matt Harlan @ the Old Quarter
08/15 - Bob Schneider @ the Mucky Duck
08/15 - Bonnie Bishop @ Dosey Doe's
08/15 - Jesse Dayton @ the Old Quarter
08/16 - Texas Johnny Boy/Milton Hopkins @ the Mucky Duck
08/16 - Two Star Symphony @ Super Happy Fun Land
08/19 - Country Jim Sloan @ Dosey Doe's
08/21 - Rebirth Brass Band @ Warehouse Live
08/21 - Yvonne Washington @ Houston Museum of Natural Science
08/21 - Soul Rebels Brass Band @ Meridian
08/21 - Sean Reefer @ Fitzgerald's
08/21 - Hamilton Loomis @ Last Concert Cafe
08/22 - Leon Russell/Danny Schmidt @ Dosey Doe's
08/22 - The Gougers @ the Mucky Duck
08/23 - Blondie @ Arena Theater
08/25 - Paul Thorn @ the Mucky Duck
08/25 - Danny Schmidt/Betty Soo @ Dosey Doe's
08/26 - Cory Morrow @ Dosey Doe's
08/27 - Bleu Edmondson @ House of Blues
08/28 - Crosby, Stills & Nash @ Woodlands Pavilion
08/28 - Ray Bonneville @ Anderson Fair
08/28 - Jimmy LaFave @ the Mucky Duck
08/29 - Ray Wylie Hubbard @ the Mucky Duck
08/29 - Across the Water @ Anderson Fair
08/29 - Dale Watson @ Dosey Doe's
08/30 - Depeche Mode @ Woodlands Pavilion
08/30 - Crystal Gayle @ Dosey Doe's
08/30 - Danny O'Flaherty @ the Mucky Duck

Upcoming Shows

2009-06-30T22:26:00.026-05:00

07/01 - Sisters Morales @ Puffabellys (Spring)
07/02 - Sideshow Tramps @ The Corner Pub (Conroe)
07/03 - Bill Cade @ The Old Quarter (Galveston)
07/03 - The Derailers @ Armadillo Palace
07/03 - Hamilton Loomis @ Dan Electros
07/03 - The Belleville Outfit @ McGonigel's Mucky Duck
07/04 - Dertybird/Miss Leslie @ the Continental Club
07/06 - The Octanes @ Continental Club
07/07 - The Umbrella Man @ Continental Club
07/07 - Jon Hogan @ Last Concert Cafe
07/07 - Betty Soo @ the Mucky Duck
07/10 - LL Cooper @ Continental Club
07/10 - Bob Schneider @ the Mucky Duck
07/10 - The Band of Heathens @ Dosey Doe Coffee House
07/10 - The Gougers @ Dosey Doe's
07/11 - Dan Dyer @ the Mucky Duck
07/12 - The Swingfield Playboys @ the Mucky Duck
07/14 - Willis Alan Ramsey @ the Mucky Duck
07/16 - Gary P. Nunn @ Dosey Doe's
07/17 - David Garza @ Continental Club
07/17 - Jimmy LaFave @ the Mucky Duck
07/18 - Bruce Robison @ Armadillo Palace
07/18 - Owen Temple @ Cactus Music (free show)
07/18 - Miss Leslie @ Continental Club (free afternoon show)
07/18 - Shake Russell @ the Mucky Duck
07/18 - Los Skarnales/Flaco Jimenez/Brave Combo @ Fitzgerald's
07/18 - Cross Canadian Ragweed @ The Showgrounds
07/19 - Reckless Kelly @ the Mucky Duck
07/23 - Max Stalling @ Big Texas (Clear Lake)
07/23 - Jon Dee Graham @ Continental Club
07/24 - Clandestine @ the Mucky Duck
07/25 - The Fray @ Woodlands Pavilion
07/25 - Katie Stuckey @ Firehouse Saloon
07/25 - 23rd Annual Watermelon Festival @ Last Concert Cafe
07/25 - Terry Allen @ the Mucky Duck
07/26 - Trout Fishing in America @ the Mucky Duck
07/28 - Will Sexton's Wine & Nut Tour @ the Mucky Duck
07/30 - Asleep at the Wheel @ Dosey Doe's
07/31 - The Hollisters @ Blanco's
07/31 - Cory Morrow @ Warehouse Live
07/31 - Randy Weeks @ the Mucky Duck

Upcoming Shows

2009-05-31T11:38:00.119-05:00

06/01 - The Octanes @ The Continental Club
06/02 - The Umbrella Man @ Continental Club
06/03 - Al Stewart @ Dosey Doe Coffee House
06/04 - Merle Haggard @ Stafford Centre
06/04 - Bonnie Prince Billy @ Walter's on Washington
06/04 - Brian McNeill/Ed Miller @ McGonigel's Mucky Duck
06/04 - Del Castillo @ Discovery Green
06/04 - New York Dolls/Black Joe Lewis @ House of Blues
06/04 - Micky & The Motorcars @ Big Texas (Clear Lake)
06/05 - Max Stalling @ the Mucky Duck
06/05 - Matt the Electrician/Southpaw Jones @ Anderson Fair
06/05 - The McKenzies @ Mango's
06/05 - Austin Lounge Lizards @ Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe
06/05 - The Gougers @ The Corner Pub (Conroe)
06/06 - The Flatlanders @ Cactus Music (free in-store)
06/06 - The Flatlanders/Ryan Bingham @ Crighton Theatre
06/06 - Asylum Street Spankers @ the Mucky Duck
06/06 - Jesse Dayton/John Evans @ the Continental Club
06/06 - Better Than Ezra @ Cactus (free in-store)
06/06 - Better Than Ezra @ House of Blues
06/06 - Two High String Band @ Anderson Fair
06/06 - 6th Annual Thanks Bob Celebration @ Dan Electro's
06/07 - Danny O'Flaherty @ the Mucky Duck
06/07 - H.A.A.M. @ Discovery Green
06/07 - Petesimple @ Discovery Green (free show)
06/08 - Matisyahu/Les Claypool/Dub Trio @ House of Blues
06/09 - Gomez @ Warehouse Live
06/10 - John Egan @ Under the Volcano (free show)
06/11 - Gaelic Storm @ Warehouse Live
06/11 - The McKay Brothers @ Blanco's
06/13 - Monte Montgomery @ the Mucky Duck
06/13 - The Tontons @ Mango's
06/13 - Benefit for the Old Quarter @ The Orange Show
06/13 - Blaggards @ the Continental Club
06/13 - He Wears Black (Johnny Cash Tribute) @ House of Blues
06/13 - Miss Leslie & Her Juke-Jointers @ the Continental Club
06/13 - Two Tons of Steel/Katy Stuckey @ Firehouse Saloon
06/14 - Hamilton Loomis @ the Mucky Duck
06/14 - David Allan Coe/Resin Valley Boys @ House of Blues
06/15 - David Byrne @ Jones Hall
06/15 - Joe Cocker @ Arena Theater
06/17 - Gypsy Kings @ Arena Theater
06/18 - Steve Earle @ the Crighton Theater (Conroe)
06/18 - Liz Dannemiller @ the Mucky Duck
06/19 - Scott Miller @ the Mucky Duck
06/19 - Craig Kinsey/Sideshow Tramps @ the Continental Club
06/19 - Jimmie Vaughan @ Warehouse Live
06/19 - Carrie Elkin/Karen Mal @ Anderson Fair
06/19 - Cory Morrow @ Big Texas (Spring)
06/19 - Gary P. Nunn @ Blanco's
06/20 - Sisters Morales @ the Mucky Duck
06/20 - Reverend Horton Heat @ House of Blues
06/20 - Shake Russell @ Anderson Fair
06/20 - The Hudsons @ the Old Quarter (Galveston)
06/20 - porterdavis @ Corner Pub (Conroe)
06/21 - The Gypsies @ Discovery Green (free show)
06/24 - Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood @ Toyota Center
06/24 - Roky Erickson @ the Continental Club
06/25 - Joe Ely @ the Mucky Duck
06/25 - Ben Kweller @ Cactus Music (free in-store)
06/25 - Ben Kweller @ House of Blues
06/25 - Jon Dee Graham @ the Continental Club
06/26 - Randy Travis @ Arena Theater
06/26 - Stoney Larue @ Big Texas (Clear Lake)
06/26 - James Hand @ Blanco's
06/26 - Jon Hogan @ the Old Quarter (Galveston)
06/27 - Carolyn Wonderland @ the Mucky Duck
06/27 - Bleu Edmondson @ Firehouse Saloon
06/27 - Ray Bonneville @ the Old Quarter (Galveston)
06/28 - Texas Johnny Boy @ Discovery Green
06/28 - Texas Johnny Boy/Milton Hopkins @ the Mucky Duck
06/30 - Michael O'Connor @ the Mucky Duck

Upcoming Shows

2009-04-30T21:15:00.030-05:00

05/01 - Over The Rhine/Lucy Wainwright Roche @ Warehouse Live
05/01 - Miss Leslie & Her Juke-Jointers @ Blanco's
05/01 - Tito and Tarantula @ The Continental Club
05/01 - Drop Trio @ Avant Garden
05/01 - Li'l Ed & The Blues Imperials @ The Meridian
05/01 - Patrice Pike @ McGonigel's Mucky Duck
05/01 – Lise Liddell @ Dosey Doe’s
05/03 - MV + EE/Jandek @ DiverseWorks
05/06 – Max Stalling @ Puffabelly’s (Spring)
05/06 - Black Joe Lewis @ Cactus Music (In-Store)
05/07 - Old Crow Medicine Show/Justin Townes Earle @ Warehouse
05/08 - Bruce Robison @ the Mucky Duck
05/08 - T Bird and the Breaks/Greyhounds @ Warehouse Live
05/08 - John Evans @ Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe (Galveston)
05/08 – Gary P. Nunn @ Blanco’s
05/08 – Eliza Gilkyson @ Dosey Doe’s
05/09 – Guy Clark/Jubal Lee Young @ Crighton Theatre (Conroe)
05/09 - Slaid Cleaves @ the Mucky Duck
05/09 - Dustin Welch @ Cactus Music
05/09 – Dustin Welch/Mark Germino/The Gougers @ Continental
05/09 – Ann Armstrong & Steve Hughes @ Anderson Fair
05/09 – Sisters Morales @ The Old Quarter
05/10 – Slaid Cleaves @ Cactus Music
05/13 – Jubal Lee Young @ Under the Volcano
05/14 - Bonnie Raitt @ Verizon Theater
05/15 - Clandestine @ the Mucky Duck
05/15 – Jason Boland & The Stragglers @ Big Texas (Spring)
05/15 – John Gorka @ Dosey Doe’s
05/16 - Steve Earle @ Cactus Music
05/16 - James Taylor @ Verizon
05/16 – The Gourds @ Dosey Doe’s
05/21 – Jon Dee Graham @ Continental Club
05/22 – Shake Russell @ the Mucky Duck
05/23 - Band of Heathens @ the Mucky Duck
05/23 – “Third Annual Bob Dylan Birthday Bash” @ the Old Quarter
05/28 – The Belleville Outfit @ Cactus Music
05/28 – The Belleville Outfit @ the Mucky Duck
05/28 – Ray Wylie Hubbard @ Dosey Doe’s
05/28 – Mando Saenz @ the Continental
05/29 – Blaze Foley Documentary @ the Old Quarter
05/29 - B.B. King @ Arena Theater
05/29 - Cordero @ Cactus Music
05/29 - Jimmy LaFave @ the Mucky Duck
05/29 – Dale Watson @ Blanco’s
05/29 – Jack Ingram @ Big Texas (Spring)
05/29 – Tish Hinojosa @ Dosey Doe’s
05/29 – Two Tons of Steel @ Continental Club
05/30 - Stingaree Music Festival @ Bolivar Peninsula
05/30 - King's X @ The Meridian
05/30 – Gurf Morlix @ Anderson Fair
05/30 – Guy Forsyth @ the Mucky Duck
05/30 – Sean Reefer @ the Continental Club

Upcoming Shows

2009-03-31T23:15:00.033-05:00

04/01 - Jubal Lee Young @ Puffabellys
04/02 - Kevin Welch @ McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
04/02 - Carrie Rodriguez/Jubal Lee Young @ Heritage Place
04/03 - Shotgun Party @ Last Concert Cafe
04/03 - Two Hoots & a Holler @ the Continental Club
04/03 - Front Porch Society @ the Mucky Duck
04/03 - Clandestine @ the Mucky Duck
04/03 - Pocket Full of Soul @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/03 - Wade Bowen/Band of Heathens @ House of Blues
04/03 - Gary P. Nunn @ Blanco’s
04/04 - Yonder Mountain String Band/Todd Snider @ HOB
04/04 - Sisters Morales @ the Mucky Duck
04/04 - Porterdavis @ Anderson Fair
04/04 - Two Star Symphony/Chiara String Quartet @ AvantGarden
04/04 - Guy Forsyth @ Dosey Doe Coffee House
04/04 - Matt Harlan/Brad Boyer @ JP Hops House
04/05 - Jandek @ Rudyards
04/06 - The Octanes @ the Continental
04/07 - The Umbrella Man @ the Continental
04/07 - Will Sexton & friends @ the Mucky Duck
04/08 - Jubal Lee Young @ Under the Volcano
04/08 - Bruce Springsteen @ Toyota Center
04/09 - John Evans @ the Mucky Duck
04/09 - T-Bird & The Breaks @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/10 - The Gougers @ the Mucky Duck
04/10 - Shake Russell @ Anderson Fair
04/10 - Dale Watson @ Blanco’s
04/10 - Bleu Edmondson @ Firehouse Saloon
04/10 - Matt Harlan @ Bohemeo's
04/11 - Texas Johnny Boy & Milton Hopkins @ the Mucky Duck
04/11 - Johnny Bush/Tommy Alverson @ Dosey Doe’s
04/11 - Morrissey @ Jones Hall
04/11 - Two Star Symphony @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/11 - The Stone Coyotes @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/11 - Wayne Hancock @ Armadillo Palace
04/14 - Lise Liddell/Ben Mallott/Teresa Kolo @ the Mucky Duck
04/14 - The Magpies @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/15 - Dertybird @ the Continental
04/15 - Michael Hearne @ Dosey Doe’s
04/16 - Gurf Morlix @ the Mucky Duck
04/16 - Fred Eaglesmith @ Dosey Doe’s
04/16 - Country Jim Sloan @ Blanco’s
04/16 - Gurf Morlix @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/17 - Carolyn Wonderland @ Last Concert Cafe
04/17 - Kevin Burke @ the Mucky Duck
04/17 - Michael Fracasso @ Anderson Fair
04/18 - The Stone Coyotes @ the Mucky Duck
04/18 - Mike McClure/Stephen Pointer @ Firehouse Saloon
04/18 - The McKenzies @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/18 - The Octanes @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/19 - Mavis Staples @ ifest
04/20 - The Faint/Ladytron @ Warehouse Live
04/21 - Beoga @ the Mucky Duck
04/22 - Michael Martin Murphy @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/22 - John Egan @ Under the Volcano
04/22 - Jon Hogan @ JP Hops House
04/23 - Michael Martin Murphy @ Dosey Doe’s
04/23 - Iris DeMent @ the Mucky Duck
04/23 - Seth Walker @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/23 - John Lee Hooker, Jr. @ House of Blues
04/23 - Rupa & the April Fishes @ Under the Volcano
04/24 - Jimmy LaFave @ the Mucky Duck
04/24 - Paul Minor @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/24 - The Hudsons @ The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe
04/25 - South Memphis String Band @ the Continental
04/25 - Randy Weeks @ the Mucky Duck
04/25 - Two Tons of Steel @ Dosey Doe’s
04/25 - Vince Bell @ Anderson Fair
04/25 - Lise Liddell @ Cactus Music (in-store)
04/25 - James Hand @ iFest
04/25 - Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings @ Meridian
04/26 - Cheryl Wheeler @ the Mucky Duck
04/26 - Cherish the Ladies @ iFest
04/26 - Los Tres Reyes @ iFest
04/26 - Los Lobos @ iFest
04/28 - Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses @ Warehouse Live
04/29 - The Black Kids/Mates of State @ Warehouse Live
04/30 - Dan Dyer @ the Mucky Duck
04/30 - George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic @ House of Blues

Mother of All Funk Chords

2009-03-16T20:09:00.008-05:00

Ok, I know this video from Kutiman is blowing up everywhere...but I feel obligated to post it here. I first saw this over at the listenerd (my favorite blog at the moment). This is probably the best YouTube video I've ever seen. It's easily the best video mashup I've seen. As one YouTube commenter put it: "Watching this makes me happy in about 5 different ways."

This is art. Arguably the finest masterpiece in a newly emerging art form.

More amazing examples of where the future of music and technology are heading can be found at ThruYou.

Documentary on Russian Orthodox community in Houston

2009-03-14T09:15:00.010-05:00

Photos

Here is a very interesting article (from the Houston Chronicle) on a documentary filmed for Russian television on St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Church in Houston.

Upcoming Shows

2009-03-01T21:37:00.038-06:00

03/02 - William Elliott Whitmore/Samantha Crain @ Walters
03/02 – The Octanes @ the Continental Club
03/03 – Battlefield Band @ the Mucky Duck
03/03 – Ben Sollee @ Cactus Music (free in-store performance)
03/03 – Ben Sollee @ House of Blues
03/04 – Miss Leslie & Her Juke-Jointers @ Under the Volcano
03/05-08 – Asleep at the Wheel @ Grand 1894 Opera House
03/06 – Alejandro Escovedo @ Nia Moves
03/06 – Little River Band @ Warehouse Live
03/06 – Bruce Robison @ the Mucky Duck
03/06 – Rick Broussard @ Cactus Music (free in-store performance)
03/06 – Dokken @ Scout Bar (Clear Lake)
03/06 – Opie Hendrix @ Last Concert Cafe
03/07 – Brave Combo @ the Mucky Duck
03/07 – Jenny Wolfe @ Cactus Music (free in-store performance)
03/07 – Texas Independence Day Festival @ Heritage Place (Conroe)
03/07 – Billy Joe Shaver @ Dosey Doe Coffee House
03/08 – Subdudes @ the Mucky Duck
03/08 – Danny Schmidt/Carrie Elkin @ Anderson Fair
03/08 – Little Joe Washington’s 70th B-day Party @ the Continental
03/08 – Afro Cuban All Stars @ Warehouse Live
03/10 – The Umbrella Man @ the Continental Club
03/10 – Cadillac Sky @ the Mucky Duck
03/11 – Patrice Pike @ the Mucky Duck
03/13 – Jonathan Coulton @ House of Blues
03/13 – Rebirth Brass Band @ Warehouse Live
03/13 – LL Cooper @ Last Concert Cafe
03/13 – Ian McLagan @ Cactus Music (free in-store performance)
03/13 – Jimmy LaFave @ the Mucky Duck
03/14 – Benefit for the Old Quarter @ The Orange Show
03/14 – Eric Taylor @ Anderson Fair
03/14 – Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters @ House of Blues
03/14 – Bob Schneider @ the Mucky Duck
03/14 – Gary P. Nunn @ Armadillo Palace
03/14 – Ian Moore @ the Continental Club
03/15 – KPFT's 39TH Birthday Party @ the Mucky Duck
03/16 – Hugo @ Cactus Music (free in-store performance)
03/17 – St. Patrick’s Day Festival @ the Mucky Duck
03/17 – Deer Tick @ Cactus Music (free in-store performance)
03/19 – The Mathletes @ Sound Exchange (free)
03/19 – John Evans @ the Mucky Duck
03/19 – Elton John/Billy Joel @ the Toyota Center
03/19 – The McKay Brothers @ Blanco’s
03/20 – Kinky Friedman @ the Mucky Duck
03/20 – Max Stalling @ the Firehouse Saloon
03/20 – The Derailers @ Armadillo Palace
03/20 – Sean Reefer & the Resin Valley Boys @ the Continental Club
03/21 – Andrew Bird @ House of Blues
03/21 – Ray Wylie Hubbard @ the Mucky Duck
03/21 – Roy Hargrove Quintet @ Cullen Theater
03/21 – Ann Armstrong & Steve Hughes @ Anderson Fair
03/22 – ZZ Top @ Reliant Stadium
03/22 – Justin Townes Earle/Amy Lavere @ the Mucky Duck
03/23 – Nicholas Tremulis @ Cactus Music (free)
03/24 – Jesse Dayton & Brennen Leigh @ Dosey Doe’s
03/26 – The Belleville Outfit @ the Mucky Duck
03/26 – The Sideshow Tramps @ Rudyard’s
03/26 – Amber Digby @ Blanco’s
03/26 – Band of Heathens @ Big Texas (Clear Lake)
03/27 – Carolyn Wonderland @ the Mucky Duck
03/27 – Buddy Mondlock @ Anderson Fair
03/27 – James Hand @ Blanco’s
03/27 – Jason Boland @ Firehouse Saloon
03/28 – Free Press Houston Westheimer Block Party
03/28 – Asylum Street Spankers @ the Mucky Duck
03/28 – Monte Montgomery @ Dosey Doe’s
03/28 – Chris Knight/Mark Germino @ Crighton Theatre (Conroe)

January Shows

2009-02-27T19:24:00.038-06:00

Lots of good shows last month. Probably the most concerts I've ever attended in one month.

First was the Twelfth Annual Townes Van Zandt Wake at the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe in Galveston, Texas. What an incredible experience! I can't believe I have never been before...I have really been missing out on an amazing event. There were over 100 people crammed into that small bar. People were everywhere...standing outside, in rows at the bar and anywhere they could find a space. It got so crowded they started letting people stand behind the bar. I just could not believe there were that many Townes Van Zandt fans all in one place at one time. It was a sight that I will never forget. Here's a clip of Jon Hogan (along with Gary Ragan and Maria Moss) performing his version of Townes' song "Lungs":

Next up was the final fundraiser for the Old Quarter, which sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Ike, held at Anderson Fair. The lineup for this benefit concert consisted of: Danny Everitt, Bill Cade, Ann Armstrong & Steve Hughes, Carrie Elkin, Danny Schmidt and The Hudsons. A great night of music for a great cause. I even won free tickets to the Old Quarter for correctly answering a door-prize question: What year was the album Live at the Old Quarter recorded? Answer: 1973...I thought everyone knew that. Here is a video of Danny Everitt performing one of his songs:

and here is Carrie Elkin performing her song "Roots & Wings":

Here's a clip of the amazing Danny Schmidt (more on him below) performing his song "This Too Shall Pass":

and finally here are The Hudsons performing one of their infamous "folk rap" songs "Green Man":

Next I saw Idgy Vaughn, Amy Speace and Danny Schmidt in a Songwriters night at the Mucky Duck. Good concert and an interesting pairing of singers. Here's a clip of Idgy introducing and performing her song "Small Town Girls":

This show was the first time I had seen Amy Speace and I was very impressed. Here is Amy playing her song "The Killer In Me":

Once again I was able to see the very talented Danny Schmidt perform. He is definitely an artist to keep an eye on. Here's a clip of Danny performing a song that may well be his masterpiece..."Stained Glass":

....yeah, he's that good...here is one more clip of Danny performing "Guilty By Association Blues" (a song obviously written prior to January 20, 2009):

Next up was the Junior Brown show at the Mucky Duck. A great show! It was so good my friends and I (who had seats for the first show) bought standing-room only tickets for the 2nd show as well. The only negative was that Junior did not bring any cds or merchandise with him and didn't come out to greet anyone after the shows. Here's a clip of Junior playing his perennial hit "My Wife Thinks You're Dead":

I also saw Eliza Gilkyson at the Mucky Duck. Eliza's show was a lot of fun and she has a great voice. Unfortunately that night she had some kind of bug and had to stop the first set early to recover her voice. She returned to the stage, however, and continued the first set and even did a full second set. I thought that was admirable when many performers would undoubtedly have cut the evening short. Here's a video of Eliza performing the song "Runaway Train" from her newest cd:

Lots of good shows at the Duck in January...next on my schedule there was Greg Trooper. I had been meaning to see Greg for a long time but always had conflict with his last few appearances in Houston. Another good show and he had a great band with him. Like Fred Eaglesmith, I have to admire a performer who isn't afraid to heckle his audience. Here's Greg playing his song "Hummingbird":

Then there was the sold-out Hayes Carll shows at the Duck. I went to the second show which always features a rowdier crowd. Hayes brought along his band the Gulf Coast Orchestra. I thought it was a great concert with one exception...Hayes' voice really sounded strained on a few songs. I know Hayes keeps a very demanding touring schedule but I honestly think it's time for him to shut it down for awhile and rest his voice. Here's Hayes in better form performing "Little Rock":

As a bonus...after the Hayes' show...I was able to catch the end of Dale Watson's show at Armadillo Palace. I only heard a few songs from Dale but I was impressed with his voice...and his wardrobe! Here's a video of Dale and his band performing "Nashville Rash":

Then it was back to the Duck to see one of my favorite bands The Gougers. Great show from the Gougers as always. Here's Jamie and the gang doing "Everybody Knows":

The next show on my schedule was supposed to be Bruce & Charlie Robison playing together at the Mucky Duck. That show had to be cancelled due to Bruce coming up sick. Fortunately, Hayes Carll and John Evans (aka The Ego Brothers) were able to come to the rescue. Here are the brothers themselves doing their one and only song "Ain't Enough Of Me To Go Around":

Next up was a songwriters round over at Anderson Fair with Ken Gaines, Wayne Wilkerson, Jim Patton, Sherry Brokus and Jon Hogan. Here's a clip of Ken Gaines and Karen Mal performing Ken's song "Catfish Moon":

Finally, I made the drive down to Galveston to catch the legendary Richard Dobson at the Old Quarter. It was a great concert...with the exception of the loud drunk girl who laughed incessantly throughout the show. It was a great pleasure to get to meet Richard and have him autograph of copy of his book Gulf Coast Boys. Here's a clip of Richard (and Jerry Douglas?) performing his song "Hard By The Highway" from the Heartworn Highways documentary:

Icon Exhibit Presentation

2009-02-23T16:34:00.013-06:00

Here are videos of iconographer John Lickwar's presentation entitled "The Icons of Annunciation and of the Myrrh-bearing Women". This presentation was given at the Icon Exhibit held recently at St. Jonah Orthodox Church.

The video of the presentation is available in 5 parts:

Special thanks to Torsten for assisting with the presentation and making these videos available on YouTube.

Uncle Seymour

2009-02-23T12:02:00.012-06:00

Some words of wisdom from Uncle Seymour Washington...and one of Townes Van Zandt's first songs. Scenes are from the documentary Heartworn Highways.

More Podcasts

2009-02-22T22:25:00.010-06:00

Photo Source

A series of podcasts of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah's talk on preparing for Great Lent are available on the Orthodox Christian Network's "Special Moments in Orthodoxy" podcast page.

Metropolitan Jonah's talk can be heard in three parts here, here and here.

Icon Exhibit Podcasts

2009-02-22T20:37:00.009-06:00

A series of podcasts recorded at the Icon Exhibit (held last weekend at St. Jonah Orthodox Church) are available on the podcast page of the Orthodox Houston website.

The podcasts related to the Icon Exhibit include:

Fr. James Early's talk on his pilgrimage to Orthodoxy entitled "From Baptist to Bosnia to Byzantium"

Fr. John Whiteford's talk on "Why Do We Venerate the Saints";

and a selection of hymns from the Church year sung by the St. Jonah Choir.

"Tecumseh Valley"

2009-02-20T00:54:00.005-06:00

Townes Van Zandt sings "Tecumseh Valley" at a Holiday Inn hotel room in Houston, Texas in 1988. (h/t Arthur's Musical Journey). More info on the video from this private concert can be found here.

Icon Exhibit

2009-02-14T10:17:00.008-06:00

Holy Images, an exhibit of Russian Orthodox icons dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, is being held this weekend at St. Jonah Orthodox Church in Spring. Admission is free.

The schedule for the lectures and presentations can be viewed here.

Directions to St. Jonah's can be found here.

I will be at the exhibit throughout the weekend. Come by to see the exhibit and say "Hello".

Enthronement of Patriarch Kirill I

2009-02-02T22:22:00.012-06:00

Photo Sources here, here and here

The enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill I occurred yesterday at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.

More information on the enthronement can be found in this post from the official web site of the Moscow Patriarchate.

A lengthy video featuring excerpts from the service (with commentary in English) can be found here.

More photos from the service can be viewed here.

Upcoming Shows

2009-01-31T12:16:00.075-06:00

02/01 – Greg Brown @ McGonigel's Mucky Duck (sold out)
02/01 – Hayes Carll @ the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe (Galveston)
02/02 – The Octanes @ the Continental Club
02/03 – The Umbrella Man @ the Continental Club
02/05 – Johnny Falstaff @ Armadillo Palace
02/05 – Dr. John & The Neville Brothers @ House of Blues
02/05 – Craig Kinsey @ the Big Top
02/06 – Susan Tedeschi @ House of Blues
02/06 – Randy Weeks @ the Mucky Duck
02/06 – Bill Cade @ Anderson Fair
02/06 – Cross Canadian Ragweed @ Big Texas (Spring)
02/07 – Gov’t Mule @ House of Blues
02/07 – Tom Russell @ the Mucky Duck
02/07 – Randy Weeks @ Cactus Music (in-store)
02/07 – Denice Franke/Clive Gregson @ Cactus Music (in-store)
02/07 – Denice Franke/Clive Gregson @ Anderson Fair
02/07 – Jesse Dayton/John Evans @ the Continental Club
02/08 – Tesla @ House of Blues
02/08 – Swingfield Playboys @ the Mucky Duck
02/09 – Devotchka @ Warehouse Live
02/09 – Howe Squire White of Yes @ House of Blues
02/10 – Fred Eaglesmith @ the Mucky Duck
02/11 – Chris Knight @ the Continental Club
02/12 – Ian Moore @ the Mucky Duck
02/12 – Paula Nelson @ Dosey Doe’s
02/13 – Danny Schmidt/Idgy Vaughn/Will Sexton @ the Old Quarter
02/13 – Radney Foster @ Dosey Doe’s
02/13 – Dana Cooper @ Anderson Fair
02/13 – Stoney Larue @ Big Texas (Clear Lake)
02/13 - Macon Greyson @ Armadillo Palace
02/14 – Shake Russell @ the Mucky Duck
02/14 – Carrie Elkin/Sam Baker/Aimee Bobruk @ Anderson Fair
02/14 – Jerry Jeff Walker @ Dosey Doe’s
02/14 - Micky & the Motorcars @ Firehouse Saloon
02/15 - Notorious @ the Mucky Duck
02/17 – Hank III @ the Meridian
02/18 – Robin Williams @ Verizon Theater
02/19 – Joe Ely/Joel Guzman @ Dosey Doe’s
02/19 – Clandestine @ the Mucky Duck
02/20 – Austin Lounge Lizards @ the Mucky Duck
02/20 – The Hudsons @ the Old Quarter
02/21 – Lucinda Williams @ Warehouse Live
02/21 – Sisters Morales @ the Mucky Duck
02/21 – Matt the Electrician/Southpaw Jones @ Anderson Fair
02/21 – Sean Reefer & the Resin Valley Boys @ the Continental Club
02/22 – Brennen Leigh @ the Mucky Duck
02/24 – Son Volt @ the Continental Club
02/25 – Mary Gauthier @ the Mucky Duck
02/25 – The Chieftains @ Jones Hall
02/26 – California Guitar Trio @ the Mucky Duck
02/27 – Two Tons of Steel @ the Armadillo Palace
02/27 – Jonny Lang @ House of Blues
02/27 – Adam Carroll/Michael O’Connor @ Anderson Fair
02/27 – James McMurtry @ the Continental Club
02/28 – The Pretenders @ House of Blues
02/28 – Patrice Pike @ the Mucky Duck
02/28 – Band of Heathens @ Dosey Doe’s

Russian Church monasteries increased thirty-six fold, parishes and clergy – more than fourfold under Alexy II

2009-01-31T10:33:00.025-06:00

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Original article at Interfax-Religion published on Jan. 27th:

Russian Church monasteries increased thirty-six fold, parishes and clergy – more than fourfold under Alexy II

Moscow, January 27, Interfax – The number of the Moscow Patriarchate monasteries has increased thirty-six fold and a half - from 22 to 804.

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Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Kirill has cited this data in his report at the Local Council in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on Tuesday.

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Russia has opened 234 monasteries and 244 nunneries, the CIS-countries and Baltic States – 142 monasteries and 153 nunneries, other foreign countries – three monasteries and three nunneries. Besides, the Russian Church Outside of Russia supervises over 16 monasteries and nine nunneries. There are 203 monastery representations and 65 hermitages.

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The number of parishes increased fourfold for 20 years (from 6 893 to 29 263 parishes), the number of dioceses - twofold (from 76 to 157), clergy - more than fourfold (from 7 397 to 30 670) and the number of bishops increased almost thrice (from 74 to 203).

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The number of acting churches in Moscow has increased twenty-two fold - from 40 to 872. The city had only one monastery acting before 1990, now there eight monasteries, 16 monastery representations, three seminaries, two Orthodox higher education establishments.

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Icon starts streaming myrrh at Cathedral of Christ the Savior

2009-01-31T10:01:00.009-06:00

Excerpt from this article from Interfax-Religion:

Icon starts streaming myrrh at Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Moscow, January 27, Interfax - The Softener of Evil Hearts Mother of God Icon at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow has started streaming myrrh.

Vesti television channel reported citing evidence of numerous churchgoers that the icon was "streaming myrrh very intensively."

In line with a long-standing church tradition, the icon has been specially brought to the Church Council meeting currently being held in Moscow, at which over 700 of its participants earlier cast their ballots to elect a new Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

More information on the "Softener of Evil Hearts" icon can be found here.

Epistle of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church

2009-01-31T09:40:00.006-06:00

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Source

MOSCOW: January 28, 2009

Epistle of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church

Dear in the Lord Pastors, Divinely-Wise Monks and Nuns, Beloved Brothers and Sisters, faithful children of our Holy Church!

The Local Council [Pomestny Sobor], held on January 27-28, 2009, at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, addresses you with the words of the Apostle: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Council has deemed worthy the fruits which, by the mercy of God, our Church has brought to the Lord over these last eighteen years since the last Local Council. At that Council, by the will of the Holy Spirit, the Hierarchy and the people of God chose His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia of blessed memory. This Council approved the works of the Councils of Bishops from 1990-2009, and the ecclesiastical efforts in various areas made during the Patriarchal service of His Holiness the late Patriarch. Expressing due gratitude to him for all his labors and cares, we appeal to our pastors and children of our Church to prayerfully remember our late Patriarch. His Holiness strove tirelessly to preserve the unity of the Church, protecting her from schisms and divisions, uniting people of various nationalities, generations and social strata. The main deed achieved by His Holiness the Patriarch, together with the late Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory, was the reestablishment of the unity of the Russian Church Abroad and the Church in the Fatherland. And today, remembering the legacy of our late Patriarch, we must preserve and strengthen church unity, not allowing anyone to sow the seeds of discord among us.

Keeping "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3) is a sign of the presence of Christ Himself in the community of His followers. Even as we preserve unity in the main thing—the Holy Orthodox Faith—we can have differences in individual questions relating to the life of the Church or society. But these differences must not lay the foundation for enmity, division and unfair accusations. The Local Council supports the document of the Holy Council of Bishops of 2008 "On the Unity of the Church" and calls upon the Fullness of the Church to follow it.

On January 27 of this year, by the will of the Holy Spirit, the Council elected His Eminence Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad as the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

We ask the entire Church flock to fervently pray that our Chief Pastor, the Lord Jesus Christ, bountifully pours forth His mercies on the service of the new, sixteenth Patriach of Moscow and All Russia, that He grant him undiminished help in all his efforts, strengthen his spiritual and physical powers towards service to the Holy Church, that the Patriarchal labors of His Holiness Vladyka, our Father, the newly-elected Patriarch Kirill, bring fruits blessed by God.

During the last century, our Church passed through the furnace of tribulations, preserving faith and devotion to Christ. Today, new possibilities arise before her: missionary work, which we must actively pursue, for the Christian mission is the direct legacy of the Savior. The Resurrected Christ calls upon His disciples to follow Him and preach Divine Truth. The Lord came to save, but, in the words of the Apostle, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). May we all be servants and preachers of Christ the Savior, "by whom we have received grace and apostleship" (Romans 1:5).

The pastoral word and the example of Christian good works must reach the hearts of those who call themselves Orthodox Christians, but do not live a churchly life. For they are also a part of our Church, called by the Lord towards salvation. Rejoicing at the growing number of churches and priests, we must remember that it is the condition of the souls of men, their participation in the Mysteries and divine services, their moral and spiritual image that are the essential criteria of the efforts of the Church. We are called upon to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel of Christ, "that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). We must declare that only by following the eternal and unchanging moral values granted by Divine Revelation will we be able to overcome internal individual crises, the disintegration of the family and social problems. The Church carries this testimony to the entire world, to all people, especially children and youth. This is precisely why we must take the opportunity today to boldly turn to the young generation through preaching, through school, through the mass media.

Service to the church has always been yoked to care for people, those who need help and sympathy. Our duty is to feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, defend the unfairly injured, help the elderly, support the lonely, lighten the burden of the ailing, console those in despair.

The Local Council calls upon all the devoted flock of our Church to strengthen their unity in the name of Christ under the omophorion of our new Primate, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Through unified effort we must "work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12) and participate in the spiritual education of those near and far. "Pray," said the Apostle, "that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified" (2 Thessalonians 3:1). The most important thing is that we abide in the love of Christ, which supersedes state borders, national or other divisions, that we may fulfill the testament of the Savior, Who prayed his Heavenly Father for those who believe in Him: "that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us" (John 17:21).

May the Lord God, glorified in the Holy Trinity, through the intercession of the Most-Pure Mother of God, by the prayers of the New Martyrs and Confessors and all the saints of our land, have mercy upon us and save us, through His grace and love for mankind. Amen.

Press Service of the Local Council

More info on the Archbishops and Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church can be found here (in Russian).

Metropolitan Kirill Elected as Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church

2009-01-27T19:46:00.015-06:00

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His Eminence Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad has been elected Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.

More details can be found in this article from Interfax-Religion.

Photos from the election of the new Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia can be viewed here, here and here.

May God Grant His Holiness Kirill I Many Years! Axios! Axios! Axios!

"Snowin' On Raton"

2009-01-25T16:08:00.006-06:00

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Townes Van Zandt sings about Raton Pass along the Colorado and New Mexico border (h/t PTLDME).

Executive Orders

2009-01-24T19:42:00.004-06:00

The Executive Orders and Presidential Memoranda signed (thus far) by President Obama can be viewed here.

A historical overview of Presidential Executive Orders can be viewed here.

Sola Scriptura Debunked

2009-01-19T22:01:00.006-06:00

Fr. John Whiteford gives a masterful discourse on the fallacy of Sola Scriptura (the Protestant doctrine of scripture as the final authority of Christian doctrine) here.

This talk is part of The Illumined Heart podcast series available on Ancient Faith Radio.

An article by Fr. John on Sola Scriptura can also be read here.

Songbird

2009-01-12T22:06:00.015-06:00

I realize that this video has been available on youtube for over two years...but I just discovered it today.

It is one of the rare videos featuring a live performance by the incomparable Eva Cassidy.

Forgive me if you have seen this video a number of times already. If you have, it is worth watching again. If you haven’t, you really should take 5 minutes and 30 seconds to watch this sublime performance.

For those who don't know, Eva Cassidy died at the age of 33 of skin cancer. Eva and her music were not widely known during her lifetime but interest in both has increased dramatically since her death.

To this day, the Nightline story on her life and death remains the show's most popular episode ever. You can view that episode in three parts below:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

You can view more videos of Eva Cassidy's live performances here.