REH: Now that the band lineup has been consistent for two back to back studio recordings, and has gelled as a live road band, did things seem to fall into place as far as groove and overall vibe for this record?

WB: Yeah, and it's a good thing too. We went in to the studio pretty unprepared this time. We were touring so heavily that we didn't have much time to hit the rehearsal room, so we ended up arranging about half the songs as we were recording them. If we weren't as comfy as we are playing together, it wouldn't have worked. I turned out to be a cool way of doing an album, but it was a lot more stressful than knowing the songs inside out. I'm not sure we'll do it that way again, unless we have to. The up side is that most of the songs have a real live feel to them and the energy is pretty high as we were scared shitless while recording them! Sixgun would have been a different song had we arranged it prior to entering the studio. We had one take down with this blusey half time feel and Ray had the idea to save my, Cody, and Dave's parts and record a full on rock beat over the top of the existing track. So Jazz and Jam went back in and laid down the rhythm section over our sloppy laid back groove, and it just worked. There is no way in hell that we could have ended up with the groove we got on purpose. Those things just have to happen. That's the best thing about working with Ray - he's fearless when it comes to experimentation.

REH: Was there more of an electricity and a sense of adventure for lack of a better word, with Under the Table and a hope to capture that again OR a "Let's just see what happens" with the WTR sessions?

WB: We just went in trying to top Under The Table - both sonically and musically. I felt the lyrics and songs were stronger this time and the sequence was something we were excited about. I think we just want to keep raising the bar with each record. We don't want to make the same album ten times. Any good band will evolve naturally, and I think that's what we're after here.

REH: Did any chatter concerning the ugly head of "the sophomore curse" for second records with a major label rear itself even though technically this is RK's 5th record?

WB: No. We would have had to have greater success with Under The Table to make that a going concern. Of course, we didn't want to make a lousy record, but it felt a lot more like our fifth record than it did our second. I think the label may have had some concerns, but if they did, they kept it to themselves. I think that’s the best thing about being on Sugar Hill - they let us make the records and pretty much leave it to us until it's done. That’s when they take over.

REH: Did you, Cody, or David, as the resident knob twirlers in the band, get any production credits on this record? Is this solely a Ray Kennedy production or did it get the Twangtrust treatment?

WB: We had a lot to do with the arrangements and production ideas, but at the end of the day, Ray is the pro and did most of the producing. I don't really consider myself a producer as I don't understand how a tape machine works. It might as well be magic as far as I know. When I learn how magnetic particles stuck to tape makes a sound, I'll start calling myself a producer. Cody and Dave have produced a few records in town and know more about it than I do. Cody has always had a lot to do with making sure things are getting placed in the right spot and has a great ear. Dave is pretty tech-minded and will probably be a hell of a producer someday. I'll stick to the old four track for a while.

REH: There was some dalliance on UTTAATS into instruments that aren't used by RK in a live setting (bouzouki, harmonium, piano etc.). Did you, as a bit of an experimenter, consciously write songs that were bigger and fuller as opposed to the guitar/vox treatment of past writing?

WB: Not really. I don't write that way. I can hear the song and have ideas as to what instrumentation will be used but for the most part, those things happen in the studio. Ray's place is like a great big toy box with no lock. If you let us hang there long enough, we'll use every guitar in the joint, so we just have to hear the song and say, "hey, you know what would be cool there? MELLOWTRON!!!"

REH: Any chance we'll see a Steve Earle /Reckless Kelly Crossroads on CMT? It seems like a natural progression since the Warren Zevon/Alejandro Escovedo tribute sessions.

WB: I had the same dream!

REH: Tell us about the new Tele. Rumor has it that it's a Custom Shop deal. Care to share the specs on the WB stage rig? Inquiring geeks like myself wanna know!

WB: I ordered it straight from Fender, and with the exception of the Bigsby, it's a stock ’62 reissue. I had the custom shop slap on the Bigsby and have plans to put some Fralin pickups in it. As far as my stage rig, it's pretty much guitar to tuner to AC-30. I love the way those amps sound and I don't really have much use for pedals. I used to have a flanger in line for "Waitin' on the Blues”, but for one song a night, I don't bring it out much anymore. The Guild has a Baggs LB 6 in it and I run it through a Fishman pre-amp. I try to keep my rig as simple as possible as I don't like to spend much time setting up gear.

REH: Several members of Club Millican have inquired about songs from RK live shows that are crowd pleasers but haven't made it on a studio record - Me and My Baby, Buckaroo, etc. Will we see them down the line?

WB: Perhaps. I have a ton of songs that are unfinished or just waiting for the right album. We had a plethora of slow songs for the last two records, and not wanting to release an album of ballads, some of them have to be cut. The problem is that by the time we get ready to make a new record, I've got a bunch more slow songs to pick from and some of the older ones get cut yet again. The "A & R" department also has something to do with that. (We need more hits!) Buckaroo might end up on a Rock Farmers album if we ever get around to recording one.

REH: How bout the tracks from Live at Stubb's? Will they ever get studio treatment?

WB: I bet we'll record Wild Western someday. As Kip Attaway once told me, "that song has been a hit for thirty years." We actually recorded it for Millican, but it, along with three other songs got cut at the last minute due to lack of energy. I still have those reels, and might see what they sound like now. It's been about eight years since we've heard ‘em. Gotta save something for the anthology!

REH: Some audiophiles have commented on the overall "muddiness" of the recording of The Day. Are there any thoughts of re-recording or re-mastering the disc with David playing the Jon Dee guitar parts?

WB: We have discussed remixing that album. We recorded it at Bismeaux in Austin and were unaware of the bass heavy room. It sounded great in the studio, but after we got it out, I realized it was pretty muddy. If we re-release it once the Valley Entertainment deal runs out, we'd consider remixing it, but would most likely leave the guitar parts alone. I love John Dee!

REH: Does RK have plans to jump on a major tour this year with an established artist such as ZZ Top to increase the overall exposure?

WB: We're trying to do as much of that as possible. We’ll just have to wait and see what comes along. We're doing a lot of ass kissing these days!

REH: Guess it’s time to wrap this up - Any tunes on WTR that you can't wait to play live?

WB: I think "Sixgun" is going to be a blast... and "the kids" are going to love it!

REH: OK WB, time to sneak in a Best of List from 2004:

Best Record: The Great Battle - John Dee

Best Live RK show: BB Reunion, Challis ID. What a blast! (Still hung over!)

Best Book Read: "Baseball, A Literary Anthology." It’s a killer read. I'd like to have baseball year round, but we don't, so reading about it in the off-season is pretty swell.

Best quote by Band member that is fit to print: "It wasn't my fault... the liquors had drunkend me!" - Jimmy Mcfeeley

Best Live Show: Richard Thompson at 12th and Porter in Nashville. I still have goose bumps.

Best advice from Steve Earle: On recording "Paradise" - we were laying down the first take and he says, "You guys are gonna want to change chords here, but don't... it's like you got your bacon and eggs... the pig is committed, but the chicken ain't got nothing to do with it." I had to stop and write that one down. I’m not sure we even know what he meant, but it was funny as hell at the time.

Favorite Guitar played at Ray's Studio: The 56' Duo Jet. I tried to swap it out for my reissue, but Ray got wise before I could make my get away. And the 51' No-caster is o.k. I guess... no wait, I like the pre war J-45... no wait, the J-200.... no wait...

Any thing you want to add? A joke perhaps?: I never met a man I didn't like... except Will Rogers.

What's important is that reh can now post whenever, wherever he wants - even if it's just to share a quick update about his most recent open mike night experiences. So, strap yourselves in and hold on as it's about to get fun around here.

Let's fast forward a bit - recently at work (I work as a Consulting/Demonstration Chef for the Seafood market at Central Market at 38th and Lamar in Austin) I saw a very familiar face and couldn't quite place it. He was wearing a BMI hat and he seemed like I might know him as a musician or SOMETHING, hell... Turns out to to be good ol' Brendon Anthony who plays fiddle for Pat Green and has for the last 8 years. He was a cordial as always and we chatted for a bit and so on and so forth.

What in the name of all things that are holy does this have to do with anything you are asking yourself? Well sports fans, Brendon was the 1st person I ever saw in an RK hat. Way back when, at the now defunct Satellite Lounge. It might have been as early as '97 but I'm pretty sure it was pre-REK Uprising 1998 (back when yours truly was a dyed in the wool quaffer of double shots of chilled Tuaca and Shiner Bock longnecks). I was front and center at a Pat Green show at the Fab Sat with famous Camp Allen alumni Mikey "Highway" Wilcher and we were more f@#ked up than a snake in a lawn mover.

I remember looking at that handsome devil Brendon with my one good eye and thinking, "Huh, ya know? he'd be be only half as handsome if he wasn't wearing that snazzy hat. Uh... Reck... uh... Reckless? Reckless Kelly? Who the hell are they? Must be good if Pat's fiddle player is wearing the hat." I might also have fuzzily remembered that Robert Plant was wearing a Dread Zeppelin shirt at his shows but regardless, that must mean that RK = cool. What the hell? My math ain't so swell so if i need to carry the 9 or E=mc/RK then by all means correct this.

So, my long winded point (do I have any other kinds?) is this: I blame Brendon for me being where I am now and I think that makes me a pretty lucky chap. I work at a very laid back job and have made some good freinds fast. I have had a chance to see some of the best parts of Texas on my bike and from my car. I have reaquainted myself with old friends and touched base with some recent additions to all things Everlovin. And, it look like I might just get to play some music too...

Speaking of music, did you know that Austin is the Live music capital of the world? Someone down at the Chamber of Commerce 'ought to incoprate that into the city logo or something. By the way, as I write this, Jeff Buckley's "Last Goodbye" is playing on the store's PA. I work in a place that plays Jeff Buckley - not bad.

Since arriving in Austin I've had the INCREDIBLE luck of seeing:

• James McMurtry
  
• Jon Dee Graham
  
• The Americana Jam at Gruene - Kevin Welch is the MAN!
  
• Matthew Ryan - Get ahold of his debut CD May Day. I'm sure it's on Amazon or at his site.
  
• RK - five times & twice at Gruene.
  
• Ricky and the Hotrods - 3x.
  
• Matt the Electrician a TON!!!!
  
• Southpaw Jones
  
• Lil Cap'n Travis - the wildest sounding pedal steel EVER.
  
• Michael Fracasso
  
• Red Voelkert - Merle Haggard's guitar player, among other things.
  
• Spoke Sin Wheel - wait til you hear these guys......next big thing? Oh, just probably.
  
• The POP Stars - Michael Fracasso, Beaver Nelson, Nathan Hamilton and Matt the Electrician. The next show is July 4th at Jovitas - NO COVER!!!
  
• The Greencards - My 1st show of theirs as a audience member and not a player at the Cactus Cafe - AMAZING room. (Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis were in the audience & even let me gush over them for a bit.) The Greencards are... well, just go see them.
  
• Jade Day - if you like Ian Moore or Jeff Buckley, this is your guy.
  
• Bobby Shitbox - Err... I mean Bob Schnieder who has a great new record and is nice as hell to boot.
  
• Colin Gilmore - Smokey's boy..... you know Smokey?.....OVER THE LINE!!!!!!!!! "mark it 10 Dude...". Great set at Ego's with one of my faves on guitar, Chris Masterson.
  

I'm sure a ton more that I'm forgetting but needless to say I'm so happy here.
Plus, I started writing again - music & MY COLUMN. I have my drum kit set up in my house! How cool is that???? (thanks again JP Strong)

I have really found what I think will be my future and my life here and wherever I end up! This leads me to state this for those who feel tied to where they are and what they do vs. where they want to be and what they want to be doing: You can not measure a dream. It has no size or height requirement before you get on.
No one, and I MEAN no one, can tell you it's too big and I don't believe God allows for small dreams. My life changed significantly when I moved here and at the same time it became so much more simple. I know who I am and I know what I want. I know the sound in my heart and it is AMAZING. I hope I have the wherewithal to bring it to the surface and I think that maybe I have that ability for others too. Maybe not the tools, but that can be learned and I'm willing.

I've learned that sometimes "the style to which I've become accustomed" is not as lofty as it sounds. It can be a dungeon and not all dungeons are in the basement. Our hero WB wrote once, "I sat up in my tower while the whole world passed me by". "I'm not in it for the money" - I belive our hero MB wrote that one. I'm not even close to having any money in the bank and I have not set foot on a stage in a long time and my last outing was less than stellar BUT I'm gonna do it and I won't be stopped by too many things. I think the day will come when you will have to pry my guitar out of my cold dead hands to get me to stop playing and seeking that sound that we all search for. I hear it and I want to emulate it BUT I will make it my own and I will share it with those who found it before me and those who are seeking it still.

Its really not even about the music. You'll find that its about us. If I hadn't seen that hat or not seen RK or written a song or met you or vice versa then not much of this would matter would it? We'd be just be whisps of what could have been.
I can tell you this, I refuse to be a whisp of anything and most of you feel the same way I bet. I doesn't take much to do one thing, one time a day for yourself and even less to do it for someone else. Who knows, it might be the kickstart to a dream, or the nudge, or the everything you got, or the last straw, or the 1st light
but it'll be a day that will resonate in your soul and in those around you forever. Try it - I did and I find its a ton easier to be in there in the muck than it is to try not to get any on ya! What's the fun in that? God damn, it's pretty ok huh? It's not quite $145 million but i'll take it... and make mine to go. I've gotta get to a show. It might be my turn to play - heck, it might be yours...

THINGS THAT (FOR SURE) YOU SHOULD GIVE A SHOT

• Dr. Pepper with fresh lime
• Any enchiladas with a fried or poached egg on top - I reccomend the Columbian enchiladas at Andy's in the Heights. Hold the suace - trust me. Or the California at Kerby Lane mmmm...
• Add bananas to the gingerbread pancakes at Magnolia
• Watch Letterman
• own at LEAST one Alejandro Escovedo CD
• see a show at:
  • The Mucky Duck
  • The Cactus Cafe
  • Gruene Hall
• see RK play an acoustic show. For that matter, see an RK show outside Tx. For those who live outside Texas, come here for a show you'll see why we're here.
• eat ice cream
  • in Austin: Babbos (soon to be renamed... damn you Batali) or Sandy's
  • in Dallas: Harry's
  • in Houston: Stucci's
  • anywhere ya can stop at a Baskin Robbins and get a 1/2 scoop each of Cream Cheese and Lemon Custard - it'll make you smile for a week
• listen to:
  • KUT
  • KNBT
  • KGSR
  • KPFT
• go to the ACL festival
• ride a bike
• eat BBQ in Lockhart, Texas - Smitty's
• go to and support the local open mic circuit - its where we got Jazz....
• note to self: It's Cha not Chomp
• mean people suck
• the new MMC record drops July 1st
• own at least one Henry Rollins spoken word CD
• Bill Hicks too
• vote
• eat your Wheaties

What a mystic sound ...

Well low and behold, Ol' Everlovin' has found his soapbox and I think I'll hop up on it.

One of the best things I did this spring was join The Sugar Hill Records Street Team - I urge all of you to do the same. I hope it goes with out saying that, on a grassroots level, we can and do affect Reckless Kelly's success. I'm not going to dwell on that but suffice it to say that slapping up posters, calling radio stations and emailing program directors will keep you young, wear you out and after all is said and done, give you a huge amount of satisfaction.

The benefit for me was much broader and a HUGE learning experience about what a record label and its personnel are willing to do for its artists. Peeps like Steve Gardner - check out his site over at www.clinkmagazine.com. Lindsey Reid - the Cosmo Kramer of falling bassackwards into Radio Promotions at Sugar Hill. I'm sure I hate you - GIMME A JOB!!!! Last but not least, my boss over at the Hill, the irrepressible Holly Lowman. I'm not sure how to spell the sound Austin Powers makes when he says “REEEEEEOOWWWW” but that's the sound I'd make about her. She's forgotten more about being cool than I'll ever know - pass the shine, ya hayseed.

I was fortunate this spring/summer to catch a ton of really great shows and some of the Sugar Hill cadre were among the standouts. I am a bit biased but being that it is my column, like it or not, I'm gonna ram my advice down your throats and tell you to go spend money an independent record store (or better yet, the merchandise table at a show - when you buy a CD at a show about 50%, give or take, of the money goes to the artist vs. about a buck fifty when you buy it at mega-store). Let’s try to put some bread on the table shall we?

Every time I catch a show. I’m amazed at the fine line between inspiration and angst that overcomes me after each performance. I find that more often than not I really, REALLY want to be apart of what’s going on up on stage and can get kind of lost in the “what if that was me?” scenario. A bit selfish I know, but really who doesn’t want to be a rock star? On the other hand, there’s another part of me who wants to be involved in the behind the scenes aspect, the grooming (if you will) of a soon to be significant artist(s) and all the different idiosyncrasies that are involved there – it’s so intriguing to me.

Luckily I've been able to, on a very small level, get my feet wet in both areas. These opportunities have been some of the most satisfying times of my life. Steve Earle said, “I'm lucky. I know exactly where I was when my dreams came true." I gotta say.... I know it’s not the same, but man I sure feel lucky and blessed. A TON of y’all have helped get me to where I am now.

Bottom line: The sky is the limit and I'm going for it and any of y’all that want to come along, c'mon with yer c'mon!

I'm gonna go off on a rant now - Shocking isn’t it?

Speaking of Steve Earle, if you haven’t listened to Steve's new live record, It catches me where I live and his boy Justin's song at the end of the CD is ripping my guts out right now. He along with a TON of other great artists, have been a GODSEND as far as my life is concerned. I hope some or all of you get a small taste of some of these great, great people:

• MICKY AND THE MOTORCARS - Who may be going through a rough spot right now but it seems to have lit their ASSES ON FIRE!!! Great, great live show.
  
• ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO - Go to his website right now and make a contribution to his medical fund.

• SCOTT MILLER - His old band The V-Roys makes me wanna play really LOUD.
  
  
• JAMES McMURTRY
  
  
• GREG TROOPER - He really, really made me listen to music again. Thanks, Chief.

• THE GOURDS

• STEVE POLTZ

• JON DEE GRAHAM

• TIFT MERRIT

• THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS

• KING COAL - Watch these guys.

• THE SIDEHILL GOUGERS – Ditto.

• CHRIS KNIGHT

• GUY FORSYTH

• THE WEARY BOYS - For blowing the doors off the Gourds at the Continental!

• SLAID CLEAVES

• ROD PICOTT - This guy came out and for 30 minutes OWNED ME.

• ROBERT RANDOLPH AND THE FAMILY

• THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALL-STARS

• BRUCE ROBISON

• BILLY JOE SHAVER - I think he smiled at me at the ACL fest. I shuffled my feet a la StogieBoy.

• KELLER WILLIAMS

• PATTY GRIFFIN - big fat duh.

• THE OLD 97’S - who are SO on top of their game right now

• RHETT MILLER - his solo record is one of the best CD's you didn’t hear last year.

• HAYES CARLL

• RANDY ROGERS - gotta love a band with a Whiskeytown cover in the set list.

• THE SOUTH AUSTIN JUG BAND - kids who play Willis Alan Ramsey? I think the future is getting brighter.

• CHERYL WHEELER

• SLOBBERBONE

• MATTHEW RYAN - 1997 release of "May Day". Run, don't walk to get this.
  

There are a few bands and musicians that I'm still rolling around on my palate and I think might have a clue and truly bust their collective asses every nite. Ya might want to check them out too:

• BLUE EDMONDSON - His version of Dallas by Jimmy Dale will scare the bejezus out of Jimmy Dale but it gave me goosebumps!

• BACK PORCH MARY - they are thiiiiiiiiiis close to being exactly my favorite kind of music: Cowpunk.

• WADE BOWEN - God Bless him girls, I'm trying!!!

• JASON BOLAND AND THE STRAGGLERS - kinda hard to resist.
  

There might be a point to all this but that’s doubtful. Some of the best things that happened to me this year have had very little to do with what was happening up on stage that nite and some times it HAD everything to what happened on stage:

• Willy, Cody and David crashing the Open Mic at Blancos after the CD release in-store at Cactus and the ensuing shuffleboard game. (My buddy Matt's '67 Hummingbird got some stage time when WB borrowed it..I'll neither confirm nor deny that we were awestruck....)

• Speaking of Cactus, they got to keep the sign!

• Scott Miller's in-store performance at Cactus was stellar too.

• Jon Dee Graham talking with me (after he opened for Steve Poltz) about playing Laredo with RK. “One of the best times he EVER had on stage” - his words not mine. Also, for inviting me to hang out with him at the Continental on any Wednesday (he also thanked me for playing Laredo in my open mic set. BIG FAT “AW SHUCKS”)

• David Abeyta's absolute dedication to TONE and what may or may not have happened at The Firehouse. Thanks for getting my mind right Boss.

• Loverboy and AC/DC at The SHED - so wrong it was right.

• Aw shit! Scott Miller's version of Street Fightin' Man with a broken string and a WAY overdriven Tele was down right filthy!

• The RK show at Party on the Plaza was one of the 1st times I heard Castanets, Peace, Love and yadda yadda, Helter Skelter, Revolution etc. Ain’t it strange and great that our boys can take passages out of the Rock n' Roll Bible and turn them into a musical Revival that can save our souls? Too much.... I dig it the most.

• Steve Earle at La Zona Rosa taking over the world for a night.

• Garrison Starr making me fall in love with her.

• STEVE AGAIN, at GrueneHall almost making Everlovin’ cry during Christmas Time in Washington.

• KEVIN WELCH AND RK at the Americana Jam!!!! The boys had about a minute of rehearsal and I'll sum it up like this: best RK show with out a lick of RK (still reverberating in my soul). Oh yeah, Muzzie emailing me and re-issuing his invite to the Reunion in Stanley!!!! I think you know I went out and had Superman insignia Fanboy’s shirt made right then and there!
  

• WB - letting me play the Gretsch (gulp).

• Cody and Willy cracking me up with the bumblebee story from Ireland (Ya greedy Bastard!!!)

• Mangler of the Year, Kirk Wright, for busting his ass to make sure Desolation-Angel.com gets Press/Media credentials whenever possible. Thanks again for NOLA, Americanna, & New Year’s Eve at Antone’s (Trailer still for sale?).

• Will Skinner for always telling me a story about the road that puts me in place.

• Moni, for being strong and brave and for her kindness and smile and ALWAYS taking care of MMC and RK at the merch table.

• Gary Braun for being a philosopher.

• Anne and Sarah for making sure that side of the stage is safe.

• Brandi for busting my lack of fashion sense (dork shirt? You’re gonna have to narrow it down.).

• Tracy (Menace Cheese?) for being, in her sleep, one of the finest writers ever, and for always cracking up at my "he's doing it again self".

• Gregg (there's 3 G's in Gregg), for putting up with my lackadaisical ass and busting his EVERLOVIN ass to make this site work. (Tracy - By the way, the Big Green Monster KILLS ME) .

• Criminy, the VIDEO SHOOT !!!!!!!!!! Thanks to every one who lost 4 gallons of water at the Video shoot in Uhland!!!!!!!!!! Was that unreal?

• When did this become an acceptance speech?
  

Last but not least, thanks to Halling Ass and The Ringers for giving me the opportunity to live a dream and for about 2.5 months. For being the best opening band in Houston! Special thanks to Matt Ling for sticking with me through it all so far (and bailing my ass out a few times - Thanks man).

Thanks to The Motorcars, Mike Ethan Messick, Hi- Ficus, The Redstick Ramblers, Joe Parsons and Blanco’s) and to Jazz for all the great advice on playing my snare drum and only the snare drum.

Thanks to Gordy for believing and giving me a shot. The Gougers too...

Rm 34's teach for putting up with my Ran'ness (glad I kept ya around. Oh wait, is it the other way around? See ya in Columbus, heh heh heh...).

The Twins for being Twins and one of them for knowing I'm a dirty ol’ man (me???????...fairly harmless without my walker)!

Jay-Dub and Stogie for proving a touch of Texas will make almost any OKIE bearable... or is it a touch of Okie makes a TEXAN bearable? (65-13)

All the Jimmie’s and Blanco’s crew: Grayson (I can stand up Bitch!), Mr. Parrish, Tenspeed, DIX (pretty boy bitch!!!!!), Mr. Hall for believing in my writing and for letting me run with it at the MMC show.

Kitten - as long as I'm in there somewhere.

Dirty Girl and "He's All Boy" for making REK's Uprising a Buh-Last! (Girls who like cheeseburgers =Crush)

Motorgirl, for being... well her-own damn self!

Junebug and HG for being cuter versions of Roaddawgs (seriously ya'll take the cake - ought to be a best fan category over at Greune with Envy).

Cajungirl, for being so reserved

Lil Teach, for keeping my soul intact.

Grid, for the mi casa es su casa.

JDA, for the Fightin Irish (Bangers, not brats. Words to live by).

Becca, for housing my Slacker ass.

Kell (You had Logs?), Gina and Gina, for being OK and being my MMC/RK bud!!

RKFCJ, for being cooler than most and making it to Stanley (A drinking town with a rafting problem).

Simon Beck - you rock my friend. As much soul as I’ve seen... I need to hang with you ASAP. NOLA is spring I hope!

Doc, don’t do it... I know ya will.

Kimberly, fer asking me to play Patty with ya. Really an honor. Glad you're part of my everlovin’ life!

Austin Vintage Guitars, for letting me… browse, every time.

ACL Festival - Until you go, you’ll never know.

Abbi, for the floor and the Delivery

Malibu, for coming back to Texas. My baby worships me.

And folks, just recent I got to play my 1st ever solo show thanks to Walter’s and The Motorcars for letting me get up there and bang away for a little while. We'll see what happens. It was AMAZING to be up there.

What the hell? I guess I just finished my liner notes. Pass the reality pills. Did I forget anyone?

Oh yeah, House Salad and Big Book I love ya!!!!!!!

Ugh... Fanboy needs food.

Oh yeah, "Uh....Possum...."

Gonna be a great fall. Get off yer butts and vote on CMT for our boys and get out there and support live music!!!! See ya'll everywhere.

What a mystic sound ...

So anyhoo, I've been away for a while huh?

It has been a hell of a summer and now that the dust has settled after round one and RK is plotting RKWD - II (Reckless Kelly World Domination for all you not so used to REH's world of acronyms...) after a short break with fence-mending and trips to Sweden and perhaps even a marathon elder Braun Bros. impromptu show at a pub somewhere in Ireland (rumor has it that it was a relaxing lil’ 7 hour jam session), it’s time for some good old fashioned filler.

So here it is in all it's glory - this is what happens when Fan Boy shows his true colors and starts to mentally jot down what the boys are using on stage and to some extent what might have reared its ugly head in the studio. Kind of a behind the scenes into what makes the RK sound (did I really type that?) come to fruition.

Turns out that I'm not alone. That’s right folks, not only do I tune into Monster Garage, it also rings true that a few other "techies" suck the marrow of any and all music gear mags and websites 24/7.... is this a bad thing? Well if you're like me, (God forbid) would you have free time to be a dork? Yes, you would!

You want to see a ripple, hell a wave of electricity run through a crowd of gear geeks and wanna be rockers like me? All that has to happen is for one of our heroes to bring one of his new toys on stage and Boom!! Us gear geeks are talking into our wrist communicators and tape wrapped glasses all over town start to fog up. Pass the salt Potsie...

This is my attempt at an interview with about 3/5th of the players on stage at any given time when the Mighty RK hits the stage. It wasn't exactly like getting water from a stone (‘cept for Jazz) but it did take some time on all of our parts and was actually started before the trip to the studio in Nashville and wrapped up around Mardi Gras so bear with me as I try to piece this together into some thing readable.

The players:

David Abeyta (aka: "The King of the Uncomfortable Silence", "Don't call me Tater", "El Diablo", “The Hispanic Titanic”)

Jimmy "Jam" McFeeley (Haircut? We don't need no stinking haircut!)

Jay "Jazz" Nazziola. (We've met before right?)

Be forewarned though, I may take some creative license in piecing this together since the Q&A was done by e-mail. Please know up front that if it seems like a real conversation, it wasn't. But then again… we might have talked this over.

REH - David, when did you arrive in Austin?

DA – 1993.

REH - And you attended Berklee for?

DA - I went the distance at Berklee. It took me 3.5 years with an additional year of course work at Oklahoma University. My time in Boston was probably the most important period for me in terms of my development as a musician.

REH - JAM, when did you play your 1st "official” gig with RK?

JAM - Oct.24, 2001 at Ego's in Austin, TX.

REH - How'd that come about?

JAM - I played with David, of course, for many years and we knew RK from the George Devore days. I had left The Roam in August of 2001.

REH - Jazz, how in the hell, besides the obvious combo, did you get hung with the moniker Jazz?

Jazz - This is probably one of my personal top 5 favorite stories. I had the great pleasure to meet “Chappy” Chapman, grandpa to the Brauns, about 7 or so years ago in Idaho. Although witty, and if you'd ask him, 'down right good looking', his hearing wasn't as sharp. So apparently when he heard Jay Nazz, he heard "Jazz". No one, myself included, wanted to bring this to his attention so everyone followed his lead and Jazz it was. We all miss “Chappy” greatly.

REH - DA, what was is your first memory as far as an influence from a guitarist, record or concert experience?

DA - I had a little red metal box full of 45's - I don't remember where they came from but I think they belonged to my Mom. In the box was a single of Revolution by The Beatles. I can still see the Apple label spinning on the turntable- I had never heard anything that in my life.

REH – Jazz, Favorite band/influences that shaped your sound or musical path?

Jazz - Its never easy to come up with a final number of favorite players. Having said that, I’ll toss 3 out there with the understanding that there are too many to ever include in one list. 1) Stewart Copeland 2) Ringo Starr 3) Levon Helm. My favorite band when I was 18 or so was The Police. If anyone is familiar with Stewart Copeland's style you'd recognize the slight tribute at the beginning of “Hey Say May” and “Time Bomb” off of the Millican record.

REH – David, to bring it back a bit to the present, what are your current inspirations/favorite records/guitar players?

DA – Inspiration: my wife. Current favorite record: Norah Jones - Come away with me. Current favorite guitar player: Bill Frisell.

REH - Since we've kinda gone there, top three favorite guitar records?

DA - (David will tell you this is torture on a musician - to ask for the "desert island records") 1) Robben Ford - Talk To Your Daughter. 2) If I had to pick just one Danny Gatton record, I’d pick two – “Unfinished Business” and “Relentless” -( w/ Joey De Francesco) and maybe “Redneck Jazz” for good measure. You see my point? 3) A little something I like to call The White Album. I blame it for my love of putting weird sounds on records (witness “Willamina” on the new CD).

REH – JAM, c'mon I know you live for this kinda desert island top three records OF ALL TIME stuff…

JAM - 1) Frank Sinatra with the Count Basie Orchestra 2) Sonia Dada – “Life At The Beach” 3) The Beatles – “The White Album”.

REH - And who would you say has influenced you the most bass-wise or just musically for that matter?

JAM - James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorious, and Paul Chambers.

REH - Beyond Jaco and Paul, who I believe did some time with Miles Davis and John Coltrane respectively, James Jamerson is probably the most recognized and influential yet unknown R&B and Motown session player to ever lay down a groove. Do you find his style of playing creeping into your live sound or even more into your bass lines on the new record?

JAM - The Jamerson influence doesn't creep it Storms!

REH - You brought another element (groove wise) to the RK sound with the addition of the 5 string bass vs. the more traditional 4 string bass. Can you see your self going back to a more traditional 4 bass rig?

JAM - Sure. I've been pulling out my G&L bass lately as well as my fretless which made an appearance on some of the tracks on the new record.

REH - Any tracks in particular that the uninitiated should listen for?

JAM - I mostly added some pitch bendy stuff to existing tracks. I think “May Peace Find You Tonight” has some but its pretty low in the mix.

REH – Jazz, how, in a perfect world, would you like your monitor mix to sound - as far as vocals vs. guitar/bass etc?

JAZZ - Monitor mixes are subjective to the guy running the monitors and the actual quality of the monitors themselves. However, on a perfect day I would have the kick and the bass VERY present. Next, Willy's acoustic and electric around the same volume. Dave's lead electric to dance around the middle and I like the vocals sprinkled on top of the whole mix. A pretty typical self-centered mix.

REH - Dave, what determines your choice or amplifier/cabinet in a live situation? Did you use any or all of your current live rig to record the new record?

DA - For the most part, I choose the amp based on the size of the venue, with the Fulton-Webb 30 watt getting used in smaller rooms and the Marshall 50 watt Plexi getting used in larger rooms. I make the exception if one or the other has been sounding particularly good lately (the Marshall has been sounding pretty good lately). On the new record I mostly used a great old Vox AC-50 of Ray's (Kennedy) - a couple of his other amps that I abused were a Gibson Ranger and a Fender black face Princeton. I also used my Fulton-Webb 30 watter through my open back Matchless Cabinet.

REH - While I've got you thinking gear what does your current live rig consist of?

DA - Guitar-wise? I have several workhorses that get plenty of stage time. Primarily it’s 1) A 1963 Gretsch Tennessean which I run stock (pick-up wise). 2) 1965 Silvertone with stock twin Lipsticks for slide work which you'll hear live on “I Saw It Coming” and lately on “Happy” when I'm not playing slide on the Strat. 3) 1998(?) Paul Reed Smith (PRS) set up with a stock neck position and a Seth Lover Bridge. 4) Fender Stratocaster 1962 re-issue running Rio Grande Halfbreeds wound out of phase for noise-cancelling. But I feel a set of Fralins coming on. Next?

REH - I know alot of us are dying at a crack at the acoustic sound you get ..I gotta say its about as much tone as you can get out of a Flat top.

DA - As far as acoustic performances, I stick to my Yairi-Alvarez which is a 60th Anniversary edition with a Fishman Natural Matrix Acoustic pickup running to a Fulltone Fat-Boost, Boss DD1(?) Delay pedal, PreSonus Acoustic-Q tube-preamp and a Boss TU-2 Tuner.

DA - On the Electric pedal board: Maxon Overdrive/Fulltone '69 Fuzz pedal/ Fulltone SupraTrem/Ernie Ball Volume pedal/Line 6 DL4 Delay Modulator. Amp: 1969 Marshall Plexi 50 Watt Amp head through "son of bastard" cabinet loaded with Celestion Anniversary 30's @ 8 ohms. OR The Fulton-Webb 30 watt head through the same cabinet.

REH – Jazz, primarily your live kit was used on the record. Were there any changes for the record?

Jazz - I use a Yamaha Recording series for both live and studio work. It has a rack and floor tom (12"and 16"). I also use a Ludwig Suprafonic snare for both electric and acoustic shows and Zildjian K Custom cymbals which work really well both live and for recording.

REH - Jam, as you said earlier, you have been pulling out your G& L 4 string bass lately for a lot of live performances. What else does your live rig have?

JAM - Currently I'm using a Galien-Krueger RB 400 head through an Eden 4x10 and 1x15 cabinet. I’d love to add another stack and I'm always on the lookout for a good Fender P-bass or J-bass.

REH - Any sage advice you three have received that has stuck with you as being timeless?

JAM - Bruce Hughes said "If you’re playing music then you are not wasting time."

DA - Once I was helping the great Joe Pass set up for a clinic. I had arranged to borrow a Polytone (always his amp of choice) for him to use but at the last minute it fell through. I had to get him one of the Yamaha amps that were in all the labs and practice rooms at school - the really awful model with all the multi-colored knobs. He plugged in, played a few bebop lines you'd be lucky just to hear in your head, took the cigar out of his mouth, looked at me and said, "David, let me tell you something. Any amp with that many knobs… fuhgeddaboutit."

REH – Jazz?

Jazz - Well, I’ve head a lot of great philosophies and advice over the years regarding music and playing. I guess the most basic, yet monumental, thought was delivered by a street player here in Austin who goes by the name King. King is a 4 star funksman who plays on 6th Street with nothing but his voice and his bass. One night I was really fortunate to hang with King over a couple bottles of something and at the end of it all he left me with one really great truth - "Music is easy, musicians make it difficult." In other words, just play and enjoy because as soon as you start over thinking your part or performance, you’re done. Not to take anything away from a technically ripping guitar solo or a slamming drum fill, but all those things need to flow through you, not get stuck inside. Dig?

REH - OK guys, thanks again for taking the time and being so candid. Any favorite tunes on the new record or fave tunes live in the current set list?

Jazz – “So Lonely” is my favorite cover. I'd say my fave RK tune is “Walk Out Now” because it was one of the first songs we worked up together. As far as the new record, “Vancouver” really came together in the studio and it really translates well live and on the tape.

JAM – I gotta go with “Mersey Beat” for fave live tune and “Vancouver” off the record.

DA - Fave live song? Ask me after next show. Off the record? “Vancouver”.

Thank you boys - This neophyte cub reporter smells Pulitzer (For what its worth, Jay later elaborated that Under the Table and Above the Sun was a record that could listen to and enjoy on its own. I think that says a ton - more than any critic or review). Jay’s favorite part of the record is mine too – it’s the little hi-hat fill right after the line "waited for the click and the lights went out”. He really nailed that - kudos to ya Jay.

OK loyal readership, I will try like hell to corner Willy and Cody and get a part two from a brother standpoint. Hell, maybe I’ll get all four of ‘em cornered.

Hope this answers some questions and if ya have any about the gear, etc. send ‘em in & we’ll get to them pronto.

What a mystic sound ...

(i.e. Ol' Everlovin' seeing Steve Earle on a Sunday and Kip Attaway on a Wednesday and then Michael Fracasso last night) .

Trust me when I say that is the truest definition of "both ends of the spectrum" when it comes to Reckless Kelly and the major influences on the Braun Brothers and the collective psyche of the remaining members.

Several of the major players from the old days on Club Millican and some of the current standouts (aed, Texas girl, Jay
-dub, Matt, etc...) will tell you without any hesitation that Steve Earle is their #1 favorite artist, bar none. It seems a natural progression for RK to fall into that category as a band that has been influenced not only vocally, lyrically and within the songs' structure by Steve Earle, but in the willingness to incorporate traditional instruments into their music in non-traditional fashions ( the fiddle, harmonium, bouzouki, dobro, piano, sitar etc..)

This has become abundantly clear with the release of Under the Table and Above the Sun on Sugar Hill Records on May 13th, which by now most of the Everlovin' readership probably already knows was produced by one half of the Twang Trust, Ray Kennedy (the other half of the Trust being Mr. Earle himself).

"There is no reverb on this record " -- as quoted by Cody Braun -- lends an appreciation towards the production style that Ray and Steve used on such sonic behemoths (yeah, I said it..) as Transcendental Blues (on which Ray did the lion's share of the recording) that has very definite ties to the Beatles and their Revolver record, to Lucinda Williams' Car Wheels on a Gravel Road which both members of the Twang Trust had their dirty little mitts on.

This is miles away from being a bad thing.

Some of the tracks on the latest endeavor have that "only on vintage instruments" saturation that just coats you in retro fuzz and feel great from the get-go... and then again some of the tracks have that crystalline quality that strip away all but what exactly is being sung and played... in itself having the ability to transport you to ...well, wherever it takes you. (I believe those in the know would use a word like "dichotomy "here.)

I'm going to really go against my nature and leave out the titles of the tracks that I'm referring to just because I think this works better if you just fill in the blanks and pick and choose which tracks grab you however they grab you. (if any of y'all want to send me your personal record review of the new CD do so now...)

Willy Braun has said that Kip Attaway is "the best worst influence we ever had". OK...OK...OK... I said that. But I think, when Kip's claim to fame as far as the Brauns are concerned is that he taught them how to cuss and how to play "Wild Western", If it was anything, it wasn't bad.

Dirty, filthy, and rummy maybe ...but those are good qualities, right?

I feel that after what Kip did to me and the crowd on Wednesday @ Blanco's (and with a smile, mind you)... I think I have a little better insight into what makes RK tick. As far as the ever-apparent "we have a leg up on you" grin that they all wear during and after a show ...for the most part.

It's a fairly well-known fact that even after as many RK fandangos as I've been to I still get a bit [what's the word... Fanboy-ish?] around the boys, and to tell the truth if I could be a fly on the wall for even half of the stuff that none us will ever hear about... well, it'd tickle me pink.

I bet the war stories that RK has just from their trips to Stanley and -- heck, just from their days off in and around Austin -- are the stories of legends! Having running/drinking buddies like Pinto, Chris Wall, Kip, Jon Dee, even to some extent Chris Ledoux and Bruce Hauser... I think its safe to say RK does have a leg up.

I know the minute I read the liner notes from the new CD that the private jokes and stories that were interlaced within the thanks are and will continue to be why RK pounds the pavement for well over 200+ gigs a year ! You just really can't put a price tag on the bonds and friends you make on the road.

Now... on the other hand, WB had well over 30 songs to cull for the 12 tracks that they finalized as being "the ones." I could go on about the songs I love that didn't make the final cut and take that approach but I won't. WB has proven that he is a songwriter and will only improve (how do you improve over Black & White, Vancouver, Hatax, Nobody's Girl, Lonely All the Time? sheesh...)

Michael Fracasso is an artist that is indirectly responsible for me really taking a HUGE interest in RK and the songwriting aspect that sometimes gets overlooked in the huge amount of fun and talent that are showcased every nite at an RK show. They used to (and should bring back, in this humble writer's opinion) cover "Started On the Wrong Foot" by Mr. Fracasso way back in the 90's, and it was the song that kind of drew me up to the front of the stage to check out the dynamics.

WB corrected me years later and told me it was a cover and that I needed to check MF out . Well, I did... I can only say after the 5-6 live shows that I've seen Michael that the culpable feeling that grabs you is that, if it's in you, and you sing or write or dance or paint or whatever... get it out of you!!! it will only make the world better.

Willy and the boys had enuff insight to listen to Michael early on, and I think the balance of finding the line between entertainment that was instilled by their Dad, and the Bob Dylan directive of "don't rhyme for the sake of rhyming" and '"Try to make each line in each song the potential beginning of another song" -- that's up there as far as rules to live by... WB has it and Michael has it . It takes a great deal of wherewithal to bring what is in your heart and mind together on paper, and even more to put it to song...

All 3 artists have really brought a ton of influence to the RK table and indirectly to all of us. I know I laugh a lot more and smile a lot more and hurt a lot more and feel a lot more with RK in my life -- and I bet the fellas will continue to pay homage to the artists that get them to that spot in their lives too...

Just a feeling I get...

What a mystic sound ...

I was recently asked how a CD like Live at Stubb’s comes about and it got me to thinking...

No matter how many times I try to explain it, I feel that my feeble attempts fall short. I have to say though, my answer may be what makes me run all over God’s creation to see this grubby little band of ne'er-do-wells.

I purchased both Millican and Live at Stubb's at the same show at the Fab Sat (RIP) some time in late fall/early winter of 1998 and the very first thing that struck me as peculiar was that the live CD didn't have ANY of the songs from the studio CD (insert cartoon light bulb moment here). Not to help with the resurrection of your friend and mine, Arsenio Hall, but I definitely went hmmmmmm...

I think it was right then and there that I really (& I really mean really) started to pay attention to RK and specifically Willy Braun as a songwriter. It hadn't occurred to me that he was in his late teens when most of these songs came to fruition (more on that later).

I have been in and around the music business since I was in my mid-teens from a "street team" level all the way to club manager. I have even tried my hand at managing a band once or twice. I might have even been successful at this venture had I not been my own worse enemy (insert "addictions" here). I've hyped bands as the next big thing and missed the bus on that call more than once... This is not one of those times.

I think its safe to say that the number of bands that would even begin to put together a project such as Live At Stubb’s can be counted on one hand. Now as a master of stating the obvious I'll edify that by saying "it worked."

I hope it goes without saying that a huge percentage of the Stubb’s CD is a part of each and every live show. Every time we hear “Hottest Thing In Town”, “Shook Me All Night Long, “Red River Valley”, “Subterranean Homesick Blues”, “Wild Western Windblown Band”, Tommy & Marla” My Baby Worships Me” or even “Loving you” - all invoke the spirit of “Live at Stubb’s”.

Bobby Dylan, Pinto Bennett, Steve Poltz, Bruce Hauser, Steve Earle, Billy Joe Shaver, Chris Wall, AC/DC and even ole’ Led Zep get "props". Props = roots (or as the lovely aed says I says, roots!!!). I wonder how many RK'ers became fans of the above mentioned artists AFTER hearing RK play "their" version of it... I know I’m in that group and I bet it’s a lot more that you'd think.

However, this has lead to the very silly “compare and contrast” argument featuring the common thread that I hear time after time – “RK plays that song way better than blah blah blah." I think we'd be hard pressed to find any member of the band that considers their renditions "better." Louder, faster and reinterpreted? Yeah, maybe you might get that out of them. But better? Nah..

When you put down roots like RK obviously have – ones that run deep and wide, the foundation for longevity is really built on the respect for the artists that have come before you. So once again, the naysayers that may call RK a glorified cover band don't really have much vision or respect for history or preservation of the past!

That being said, I feel something really different on the horizon as far as RK is concerned. It’s palpable and it feels singular... as is not for everyone’s consumption. It’s not so much the “everything old is new again” feel but something more edgy and electric... I kinda feel like Willy, Cody, Jay, Jimmy and David are up to something.

Take a good look at them next time you’re at a show.

Do you see what I mean?

I've seen it before - in pictures and in person. Bands like The Stones, U2, The Clash, a young Steve Earle and The Dukes - handsome devils one and all. Ok, so they got older - I defy you to find anyone with more charisma and presence as ole’ Keef and Mick, and DON'T even get me started on Mr. Earle.

It seems like all these guys were at about the same point when things started to be different. It wasn't hype - it was respect. Something that you earn the hard way - by working your ass off.

Don't get me wrong, if I had a daughter I wouldn't leave her alone in a room with any of these knuckle-heads!! AT first ... But, as the song goes, “to know ‘em is to love ‘em..” Pretty decent bunch of fellows as ne'er-do-wells go.

I’m not saying what I’m feeling is part of what I do now. I do feel pretty cool that I get to write my own column and get to play rock star (Trust me - when you are as big a dork as I am, any cool that comes my way is a big deal).

I have started to learn a thing or two about following a dream from being around Reckless Kelly. It’s not a dreamy existence - driving all night to get back and forth to a gig or skipping meals. Waking up with no voice or a throat that feel like I gargled with barbed wire. I got blisters on my calluses and I don't get to shave very often and sometimes I don't get to take a shower and I’m broke.

But, I get to do what I love. I have a great support group called the Reckin’ Crew. I have lost love and found grace and been as up as you can be and as low as can be stood with out breaking. It’s really a great life lesson. I think I found a calling in this world we live in.

I used to beat myself up a bit for missing out on the early days of RK. I wish I could have been there when they were just getting to Austin and had a handful of songs that were about to turn into a part of so many peoples lives.

Perhaps Willy and the boys do have a leg up since they have been in and around the biz since they were lil’ spuds up in Idaho and touring with Muzzie. I for one am glad 'cuz Willy really does have a knack for storytelling that implies many more years than he has been around (“hit the million mile mark at 17 years old”). Then again, seems like Guy Clark, Townes, Steve Earle and Gram Parsons all were right about at the same age as the RK boys when it all came together.

I think the new CD on Sugar Hill is going to really showcase a style and vision in RK's music that will really cause a stir in the "Texas Music Revolution” - As in it won’t have anything to do with it. I think that the hype you'll find elsewhere really just bounces off of RK and they have a propensity to say "oh, every one is going that way huh? Well... we'll go this way…" Not to be different but because that where the path they have chosen leads...

Things like integrity, respect, vision, and truth keep popping up in reference to RK. The healing and joy that some (Heck, most of us) feel from RK's music is not singular. I think that given a chance, most folks will find something in RK's music that reminds them of the best things ever - love, joy, heartache, laughter. Things you get when great people get together to roll in the soul mud in the middle of the RK pit.

As luck would have it, the little bits and pieces of RK's past that I missed I get a feel for from another band from Austin. Well what do you know... they got two brothers in the band too… seem to have a lil’ grip on some roots of their own - a lil’ band called Micky & The Motorcars - check ‘em out. You'll be happy ya did.

Oh and Jim Caligiuri? I think the only miscues the brothers Braun and gang ever took in regards to what path to follow was to read any thing you write in its entirety. You just can’t get a waste of time like that back.

I'd like to steal from Steve Earle (sort of) to wrap this up:

I'll stand on ol' JC's coffee table in my cowboy boots and tell him the same thing to his face.

If he's got a problem with that well... I 'm the easiest man in Texas to find…

My name is Everlovin’.

PBTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's mostly directed at me for not keeping up with this so-called "column" of mine that I have been given charge of to channel some of the useless information that I stockpile in this Grade AA size melon of mine!

Anyhoo…

Well I know its a day late and a dollar short but "Happy New Year" to all you Reckers!

To quote Mr. Steve Earle, "If you think last year was weird, this year is going to be weirder… mark my words."

I had thought about making this a 2002 year end wrap-up but it feels so "last year" already, so I think I'll let those "kicky rags" Rolling Stone and Tigerbeat (remind me again... what's the difference between these two magazines?)

Ahem... where was I? Oh yeah…

I'll let them handle it unless, of course, the Everlovin' readership demands to know where Christina got her last piercing or when the new Creed Unplugged is going to be released, or whether or not Fred Durst and Britney are currently riding the hobby horse! (BTW, if you really do care about these things... well, more power to you but, uh… what the hell are you doing on this website?)

Then again how come ol' Fanboy knows so much about all this in the 1st place? Mmm-hmm...makes you wonder doesn't it?

Probably not.

I think I've pretty much concretized my place in Dorkdom. This particular installment feels like it's going to be a continuation of my last which treaded a little heavily on the whole "Texas Music Revolution" issue (yea, that’s right, I said "issue"...)

It struck me kind of funny that about a month after I posted that literary gem our good friend Mr. Pat Green got nominated for a pair of Grammys.

It seems like the "Patman" signal (look...you think that's hard to read? Try typing it!) went up over Gotham – AKA "Club Millican" and the hounds were released!

Anyone who even remotely knows me was probably waiting for me to hit the board with both guns blazing and stir up a whole mess of Grassy Knoll conspiracy theories (back and to the left… back and to the left…) over this so called "proof" that the Grammys are a travesty and that Pat got all “Nash-Vegased” and sold out and blah, blah, blah… Trust me it was hard to leave it alone.

Ya'll remember a little group called Metallica? Yeah, those guys... Used to have one of the most fearsome bass players on the planet named Jason Newsted playing for them… I like that guy... he never said much but when he did, it counted. I think when it comes to calling Pat Green a sellout, he had a really good rebuttal when Metallica was called the same thing. I think it applies here.

He said: "Sellout? Yeah we sell out… everywhere we play, every night we play, anywhere we play.”

If memory serves me, our hero sold out the Astrodome in the 2nd fastest time in the history of the HLS&R.

Hmmm..... that seems like an awful lot of butts in seats - Can 40? 50? 60,000 Texas music fans be wrong? Might be… might not.

Tell you what… I wasn't there.

I had no intention of being there. It's just not my thing.

Now, have I been to a PG show? Hell yeah!

Was I rummier than a Baker’s dozen of Braun Bros. like ya read about?

I refuse to say I grew up (my immaturity and irresponsibility don’t allow for that) and Pat's music didn't, but to quote the wise old sage Andy Bertelsen, "Pat's music hasn't changed, my preferences have evolved.” Well put my son.

In all the hoopla surrounding "PatgreenGate", we have to look at the facts surrounding his "rise." Pat Green released his 1st independent record in 1995 - which means he's been at this for just shy of 10 years.

He has sold well over 200,000 CD’s independently and even made it on to Letterman! He recently performed on Austin City Limits and has recorded with and performed songs by the likes of Townes Van Zandt, Django Walker, Willie and Radney Foster. He cut his teeth performing songs by Guy Clark, Stevie Ray, Joe Ely, Jerry Jeff, etc. In living rooms and fraternity houses and private parties and on side stages at festivals from here to BFE and I always am reminded of the shot of him and Cory Morrow tuning up before they played together for the 1st time in Lubbock. It sure seems familiar lately…

But then again I'm telling ya'll stuff you already know...

At press time I do not have all the facts as far as how many times Radney Foster has been nominated for a Grammy for his songwriting. But, he DID co-write "3 Days" with PG and I will stand on a whole stack of Reckless Kelly CD's and hoot and holler and clap my arms off if that song wins a Grammy just because Radney Foster is one of the best songwriters around and has slaved just as hard as anyone in Texas OR "Nashvegas" for a long time and consistently puts out some of the best music on the planet. I bet Pat stands back and looks at where he was 1, 2, or 3 years ago and just about falls out.

Do you have Radney Foster's phone #?

I bet Pat does...

I don’t.

It would be really great if I did… I bet Radney has forgotten more about writing a great song than Pat Green or I or whoever will ever come to know!

I recently followed up on a dream that I have been too lazy or scared OR something to pursue and have been playing some open mics - singing and playing my own music. When, and if I...(God willing and the creek don’t rise) decide to kick it into overdrive and pursue this as a way of life, and the likes of Willy or Micky Braun, Beaver Nelson or Micheal Fracasso or even Pat Green himself called me up and says: " I heard one of your songs the other night… I'd like to write with you or record your song or however that happens...” I believe they call that "going to the Show." Trust me - this is beyond hypothetical.

Would I be stoked?

Big fat duh…

I don't think I would be selling out would I?

I know I’m getting dangerously close to the "walk a mile in his shoes" angle, with this line of thinking... and for lack of a better angle, I think that’s the ticket.

What are we gonna do when RK releases their Joshua Tree? or their VH1 Storytellers - "Live at Stubbs 10 years After", or The ESPN X-Games theme song is done by RK?

Next thing you know, if you don’t have $25 dollars for the cover, you get to hear about how great the show at Gruene Hall was BOTH NIGHTS… because they sold out the 1st night in 23 minutes?

You think this can't /won't happen? Hell I bet about 227 (and counting) of us are losing sleep over the possibility that every RK show from mid-July on will be "18 and up" and some friggin’ sparkly chick and 15 cookie cutter clones of herself are standing in front of my crusty old self, and who only know one thing for sure... she has to elbow her way past me and the rest of the Reckin Crue (good luck by the way...) and that “the lead singer is named Willy or Billy or some thing and is soooooo hot.”

"Omigod sing that AC/DC song! Woooooo!!!!!"

"Oops I think the bouncer saw me scrub off my X's"

"Zima is so good! Mmmmm..."

Sounds familiar huh? Like the last Pat Green show you went to?

Except replace the chick with some A&F wearing 20-something with a gold card and a big ol’ dip of Copenhagen screamin’ "Southbound 35" at the top of his lungs… you get the picture?

Now you multiply that by 1 CD and one koozie and a hat to the tune of around 35.00 -40.00 dollars per fan AFTER they buy a ticket and AFTER they buy a beer or 6...

If you are a smart cutting edge record label like Universal you see one thing...

CHA-CHING!

Just a note to reiterate what "The Innate 1" touched on, Universal (Pat Green's label), also is the home of such "Nashville Legends" as: Elton John, Van Morrison, Robert Plant, Godsmack, Master P (for shizzle my nizzle) and our very own good ol' ex mr Bullock...
Bob Shitbox… (Thanks Micky, that kills me every time...) I mean Schnieder or how ever you spell it. (I love his CD Lonelyland for the record... so quit clicking your tongue and snorting and huffing and puffing and rolling your eyes at me… you know who you are...)

If my calculations are correct, that's a pretty good little chunk of the music world. I don’t think I saw one major CMT rotation artist in there… hmmmm, nope. In fact, not even really that many artists you'd hear on ol’ Clear Channel stations come to think of it.

So now that Reckless Kelly has the distribution, marketing, and eventually video budget of a major label like Sugar Hill behind them, do you think they should say: "Please don't help us sell records! We want to remain relatively unknown and have to play 250-300 dates a year to make a living!"

I don't know - I ain’t them.

But I think that the idea of RK refusing the opportunity to reach thousands of more fans and maybe touring overseas is a bit unrealistic.

Hey, I kinda want to keep them a secret too… in a big brother kind of way. Just so that this little ragtag band I care about doesn't ever have to go through the circus-like existence out there in MTV-ville. I swear to God if there ever is an RK celebrity Pro-Am golf tournament - 1) I better be invited and 2) It better be at night with glow in the dark golf balls and ALOT of mushroom tea* (* - Ed. note: We do not condone the use of illicit substances to improve your golf game).

per sey ...

But it is the holiday, and I'm feeling a little lazy so here goes!

I have sent this list out privately just to kinda stir every one up and get them to thinking about what music has affected them over the course of our lives and how our tastes have changed (if at all) with the addition of Reckless Kelly as a driving force and as being the focus (favorite band, etc...). I hope that a ton of you respond to this and e-mail me your list!

Maye I'll compile a "best of" and burn a Desolation Angel Influences CD ... who knows!

Thanks for checking out the site and start diggin' deep for what has moved you musically and send it off to me!

P.S. I've added some cool new links to check out ... go see them here!

Top 20 (and then some) Influences BOYS OF SUMMER - DON HENLEY KASHMIR - LED ZEPPELIN STEPPING OUT - JOE JACKSON DONT DREAM ITS OVER - CROWDED HOUSE ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN - ELVIS COSTELLO BAD (LIVE ) - U2 HOLD ON TO LOVE ( B-SIDES TO W/ORW/OUT U) - U2 (I AM) SUPERMAN - R.E.M. AND THE WALLS CAME DOWN - THE CALL IF I HAD A BOAT - LYLE LOVETT QUINN THE ESKIMO - BOB DYLAN ( BY MANFERD MANN) GALLOWS POLE - LED ZEPPELIN IN THE SUMMERTIME - MUNGO JERRY SLOOP JOHN B - THE BEACH BOYS SUNDOWN - GORDON LIGHTFOOT MAMA SAID - LENNY KRAVITZ IM IN THE MOOD - ROBERT PLANT ALL LOVERS ARE DERANGED - DAVID GILMOUR RISE - P.I.L. LAST GOODBYE - JEFF BUCKLEY COPPERHEAD ROAD - STEVE EARLE Top 20 (or so...) of the last five years IF YOU FALL - STEVE EARLE WHAT SHE'S FOUND - THE V-ROYS WHICH WAY FROM HERE - MICKY AND THE MOTOR CARS ROCK SALT AND NAILS - BUDDY AND JULIE MILLER WICKED TWISTED ROAD - RECKLESS KELLY( NOT RELEASED) DESOLATION ANGELS - RECKLESS KELLY (NOT RELEASED) HIRAM AND HIS OLD LADY - RECKLESS KELLY(NOT RELEASED) LA CIENEGA - RYAN ADAMS 16 DAYS - WHISKEYTOWN TRANSCENDENTAL BLUES - STEVE EARLE OUR LOVE - RHETT MILLER UNDONE - ROBERT EARL KEEN SONG FOR AMY - JACK INGRAM GOODBYE - STEVE EARLE NORTHEAST TEXAS WOMEN - WILLIS ALLAN RAMSEY ( RELEASED IN 1973?) ONE EYED FIONA - LYLE LOVETT PLACEMAT BLUES - SLOBBERBONE AMY - RYAN ADAMS OVER THE MOUNTAIN - THE V-ROYS WINDFALL - SON VOLT TOM AMES PRAYER - STEVE EARLE LAREDO - JON DEE GRAHAM ANGRY ALL THE TIME - BRUCE ROBISON MY HOMETOWN - CHARLIE ROBISON FEARLESS HEART(LIVE) - SHAWN COLVIN WHEW....

After reading the ever-stewing cauldron of illiteration I came up with for my 1st publicly viewed belly-flop into the pool of fame, I'd hope to at least be able to salvage some dignity with my next installment. But as you have probably deduced by now I have about this much____ (read: none) real literary skill. I wish I was cool enough to use the "What would Steve Earle do?" mantra. Or at the very least "What would the Clash do?"

But I think I have more of a "Costanzian" existence... So kick back, pass the KFC and be prepared to receive my "Could I come across as ANY bigger of whatever the opposite of Brohans is?" manifesto or words to that effect.

About a billion years ago (as far as the Millican Board is concerned) there was a heated exchange over whether or not RK should play covers or not... It was a lot of fun to read and even more fun to be involved in!

As I think most of us will agree, RK's choices of covers have been, at the very least brilliant,(and I'll try to stay away from my usual avenue of "roots, roots, roots") here.

In my travels to the handful of RK shows I've been to,(ahem... note hint of sarcasm my devoted minions...) I've been privileged to hear tunes by such greats as:

Steve Earle (big fat duh...), Ray Price, Marty Robbins, Robert Earl Keen, Tom Russell, Michael Fracasso, The Byrds, Bobby Dylan (Bobby... that kills me Willy...), The Police, Buddy Miller, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Jon Dee Graham, Neil Diamond (really... I was there!), Simon & Garfunkel, Pinto Bennett, Bruce Howser, Steve Poltz, AC/DC, Chris Wall, The Who, Gram Parsons, The Flying Burrito Brohans (brohans ..sheesh ...Thanks Ton, by the way, for finally giving me a chance to groan and roll my eyes at you!), The Rolling Stones, U2, Curtis Mayfield, Bob Marley (ok, ok, just bits and pieces on the last three... so I'm showing off just a little...), and whoever wrote Dim Lights, Thick Smoke and Loud, Loud Music...

Whew...

That is a lot to take in all at once... It kind of humbles me... No... that is not correct... it...

Well, you know what? What it really does is torment me! Ok, both at the same time... Sheesh...

I think I speak for a lot of us who have ever spent any time playing the same track over and over just to get that one note or chord or lyrics just right!

Personally, it's given me just a hint, a mere glimpse of what must go through RK's... hell, any band or musician's mind!

You become obsessed, albeit in a good way, by the music (trust me there are way, way worse things to have an addiction to or for).

The feeling, the emotional connection that puts you and that one song on a total one on one level. And yet, somewhere in your subconscious you know, you know... that in some way it connects you to everyone else who has ever heard one single note of music!

I told Gregg one night that there is a scene in the film American Beauty that speaks volumes of how I feel about music, people, art, love, heartache, birth, death, sunrises, sunsets, shooting stars, snowfall, rainstorms, and windblown bands, etc.

"Sometimes there is so much beauty in the world I just can't stand it"

If I absolutely have to make a point with this, I think it is that music sometimes cannot be helped, it just is. It's gonna come busting out whether you like it or not.

I think that's why RK pays respect in their own special way by taking a bit of their own musical history and putting their stamp on it.

Maybe in some way it's a thank you to the artists that influenced our boys to plug in, take a deep breath and get out there under those lights for all of us. Anyone of you who read this that have ever been on stage for any thing; a speech class, an open mike night, a local theater troupe, WHATEVER -- you know how amazingly hard it is and how much you want your peers and at some point hopefully, your heroes to be ...

I don't know the word ... maybe proud? I guess that will have to do.

"Proud" of you and what their influence has carved into your soul and filled your heart and mind with that force, whatever it is that makes you have a voice.

Part ego, part humility in the face of greatness, part fear and exhilaration, part pain and joy, part love and hate.

Every level of every emotion you can muster comes to the surface when you are naked in front of everyone or even more so in front of no one.

I try to wrap my head around that every time I pick up my guitar, and it is absolutely mind-blowing.

But hey I could be wrong...

You tell me.

Be good you bunch of knuckleheads.

I luv ya.

I think I speak for a lot of the Millicaner's /Brohans (Yeah Willy, I know… I know… it’s almost sad ... but you started this!) that the last few days since the boys have come back from the western swing have been damn near awe-inspiring!

I've said it before and I'll say it again ... I should be jaded by now... way jaded in fact... but I think that RK is /are playing at the top of their game! I mean the sheer magnitude of what is coming out of the PA of late is... well... if you were @ Gruene on 10.19.02 you know... it was L.O.U.D. Loud in the best possible fashion! Pure unfiltered raw energy!

It's hard to believe that almost 6 years have gone by since Millican was released. Let that sink in… and if the rumors I hear are true as far as the potential tour de force (producer wise) that has been signed up to handle the knob twisting...... I think The Day (ow.... a punster I am not...) is soon going to be upon us when the musical layman will be able to get his greedy lil hands on what will be, in my opinion, a record on line with:

• Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
  
• Steve Earle: El Corazon
  
• Buddy & Julie Miller: - Self-titled (Recently named Americana Record of the Year...)
  

Now comes the give and take of this whole enchilada... do I want to hear RK on the Radio on some ClearChannel/Infinity Broadcasting radio station next to Creed or Britney? That could in all truth ...happen.
(ugh... I think that my own enchilada is about to heave!)

I doubt it... but I can tell you this... I have talked to a couple of the guys about this... and to potentially be in the same rotation as some of their label mates like Dolly Parton, Guy Clark, The Gourds and Nickel Creek well... that would be just fine.

It won’t move 35,000 units a week but the boatloads of credibility that it should and I feel will bring this group of gut busting, blood sweatin’, true to their roots, Hick Rockers... (God, I sound like friggin’ Rolling Stone) will be well worth the effort!

Now... for the love of Pete, somebody knock me off this damn soapbox before I hurt myself!

TOP 5 CD'S IN ROTATION @ CASA DEL EVERLOVIN' RHETT MILLER - THE INSTIGATOR BUDDY AND JULIE - SELF TITLED RECKLESS KELLY - THE DAY* RYAN ADAMS - DEMOLITION MICKY AND THE MOTOR CARS - WHICH WAY FROM HERE *It has been a while… and man I miss hearing ...well all of it! Can we please put: Floodwater Basin Butte Blues Hard Fight back in the set? ... Please?