Dallas, TX
January 10, 2003
~ Gregg
Have you ever wished for something … gotten it and then had second thoughts about wishing for it in the first place? Well, that’s a bit of what the Gypsy Tea Room show of January 10th was about. Don’t get me wrong, getting to see RK with Micky & The Motorcars opening was awesome. The show was great. What I’m talking about is my wish that the crowds at the Dallas shows would give back what they got. The crowd that came out DID give as good as they got but that meant a couple of unintended consequences.
As I’ve thought back over the show, and what I was going to write, I’ve decided that this is the last time I’m going to get on my soapbox. The only, and I mean ONLY, downside to the show were the occasional “overly enthusiastic” fans. Enjoying the show is one thing y’all … but let’s all try and be considerate of those around us. To be fair, their enthusiasm was appreciated … Ok, I’m climbing down off my soapbox now … let’s get on with it.
I had made plans to arrive extra early to meet April and Ashley and stake out my spot up front.
As I mentioned, Micky and the Motorcars were opening and they took the stage just after 10:00. It had been months since I had seen them play and I got a couple minutes to catch up with Travis Hardy, the band’s drummer, before they went on. We talked about the summer trip back to the Northwest and about their busy schedule. We also talked about the success of the new album Which Way From Here and how that was a bit of a surprise.
For anyone who isn’t familiar with M&MC’s music, it’s … well - start with same Braun family influences of bluegrass, western swing & country and maybe throw in a bit more Waylon Jennings than Steve Earle. It’s a great sound and I love it. You should definitely pick up a copy of Which Way From Here if you don’t have one. Produced by Cody and with Willy on as co-producer, it’s tight from beginning to end and might be some of the best $15 you’ve spent in a while.
The house was full for most of M&MC’s show, which made me feel good. Being their first time in Dallas, there wasn’t the familiarity with the songs as there would be in Austin but I got the feeling that everybody liked what they heard. Micky gave a good brotherly jab when he mentioned that the new M&MC caps were available at the merchandise table but “some other band forgot their caps …” There were a couple of calls for the title track off of Which Way From Here and it did close their set so they didn’t disappoint those who had seen them before.
Taking a cue from the crowd’s energy, the slower paced “Little Mama” and more intricate “Black & White” were passed over and “Wild Western” was met with raucous appreciation. In general, the show had more of an Antone’s rockin’ feel to it. Conspicuously absent (in my mind anyway) from the rockin’ show lineup was Laredo.
The new “Set Me Free” track really stuck with me … I can’t put my finger on exactly why but I’m digging it and I’ve only heard it once. Continuing to feed off the crowd, David seemed to grow more and more “en fuego” as the night wore on. One of the things that I’ve noticed about David’s playing is his versatility. No matter what the mood, what the tempo, or what the song, his playing just fits. On this night, there was a bite to things – a chilly night outside with a fired up, sold out crowd on the inside and David didn’t disappoint.
“Walton Love” followed the aforementioned “Set Me Free” and proved to be the last of the lighter songs. What followed were five rip roaring, straight ahead, bored .030 over with a blower, rock & roll songs – “Drink Your Whiskey Down”, “So Lonely” & “Crazy Eddie” got things going. “So Lonely” once again found David creating magical sounds with the guitar including working in some killer sounding feedback. “Crazy Eddie” found the crowd in charge of one entire verse … I’m pleased to say we didn’t screw it up.
Sure it was packed, and sure I had my right pant leg soaked with a mostly full beer but let’s focus on the good shall we? Good is the harmony of two brothers on "Wild Western Windblown Band". Good is hearing a song for the first time and immediately wishing you had it on CD. Good is getting rocked right down to my boots by David on his screaming guitar, by Jay on drums and by Jimmy holding down the lower end. And … most of all, good are Muzzie and JoAnn Braun for raising 4 great boys who have come to Texas to share their special brand of music with all of us!
One of the coolest things about The Gypsy Tea Room is the outside wall they have painted to advertise upcoming acts and is done by an artist named Frank Campagna. I love his work … maybe if I ever win the lottery, I’ll commission a piece for my music room. I knew that the show was going to be different than the last few in Dallas when I walked into the Tea Room.
I got there pretty much when I expected the doors to open and there were already 20 or so people in the place. Not only that, but the doorman mentioned to the cashier as I was paying that it looks like Reckless was really going to pack them in tonight … He wasn’t kidding. By 9:30 there was a pretty respectable crowd and it grew quickly. The Tea Room venue is bittersweet for me with regards to RK – it’s a great smaller venue – it only holds 250 (or at least that’s what the fire marshal’s sign says) but that means when the crowds do come out, it’s really packed. 
That’s how things ended up on Friday. While that makes it harder to go get a beer and make it to the restroom, it does make for some great crowd response. I had wanted that since September and the Sons of Hermann Hall show. I got it in spades tonight…
Between you and me, maybe it was a surprise to them, but not to me. Great songs and fantastic musicians usually end up working out pretty well.
Because they didn’t have to fill a headlining set, the set was filled with mostly originals.
Comparing M&MC to RK is inevitable and probably unfair. I’m going to try and stay away from the compare and contrast and stick with what’s good. Good is Travis back on the drums having such a good time that his face shows the joy of the show. Good is watching Micky tip his head back to sing. Good is listening to Gary blow on the harp and hearing his harmonies with Micky. Good is Which Way From Here.
Cleared of the extra instruments for M&MC, more room was made to rock out and the stage was set. Instead of the Sopranos walk-on, a new song called “Let’s Just Fall” opened the set. This was the first show that I’ve been able to see that featured some of the newest material like the opener. A pair of other “new” ones – “Nobody’s Gal” and “Set Me Free” teamed with “Desolation Angels” as the new entries. I suspect these are previews of the coming album and if they are, I can’t wait. There was an extra sumpin’ sumpin’ happening in “Walk Out Now” as Willy’s lyrics seemed to have extra intensity and bite and was a preview of the evening to come.
The more I hear that song, the more I love it … and of course there’s an RK take to an already great Jon Dee Graham song.
This wasn’t the night for beauty and grace of the Gretsch as his playing took on an extra growl - a rough and fiery hue came over him as he gave the neck of his Strat a tune up like Tony’s boys do over on The Sopranos.
Steve Earle’s “My Baby Worships Me” had Cody giving the fiddle a workout like I’ve never seen and “Hottest Thing In Town” closed things out. Returning from hiatus, Billy Joe Shaver’s song gave Cody’s fiddle a well-deserved rest while he held down the vocal responsibilities as well as ever.
Returning for an encore, they launched into “Hey Say May” before strapping things down tight for “Baby’s Gone Blues”. There’s something electric to the opening of that song for me … be it as the intro following The Soprano’s walk-on or closing things out as it did tonight. It proved the perfect song for ending the evening – a pissed off song after being done wrong, it closed things with a snarl and sneer that even ole’ Mick himself would be proud of.