Tag Archives: George Strait

My Garth Brooks story and photos post to Elmore magazine

20 Mar

After delivering a SXSW keynote at Austin’s convention center downtown, March 17 mega country artist Garth Brooks hinted about delivering a secret show in town. Then just a bit after 10 p.m. Brooks tweeted a photo of a wagon wheel with one broken spoke with the message “let’s get started.”
Brooks showed up at the 52-year-old honky-tonk about 11 p.m. with body guards greeted by Broken Spoke proprietor James White. Afterwards the mega country star performed a whole set of greatest hits beginning with “Friends in Low Places,” along with George Jones’ “He Stopped Lovin’ Her Today,” George Strait’s “Amarillo By Morning,” and Merle Haggard’s “Fightin’ Side of Me.” Audience participation reached a fever pitch when Brooks sang Joe Nichols’ “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” as more than 500 people sang the lyrics from the Broken Spoke’s dance floor, with their smart phones raised above their heads.
Between songs, Brooks told his audience, “If I had known there were honky-tonks like this back when I started out, I never would have left.” He also said “You all have fun like this every day,” and “I haven’t done anything like this in a hundred years.” At the end of his set, Brooks told the audience “It’s never good to end the night with a down song, except this one,” and he sang “The Dance.” The crowd demanded an encore, and afterwards Brooks handed over his acoustic Takamine guitar to White as a parting gift. “I didn’t know he was gonna give me a gift too,” White said afterwards. “I will always remember the day Garth Brooks played on stage at the Broken Spoke. He was right on every song. It was so crowded I could not leave the stage, but I really did not want to. It was exciting. Completely unexpected. That’s the way he rolls!”
More than 50,000 fans are expected to attend Brooks’ outdoor concert tonight on Auditorium Shores.

Please see my story posted on Elmore magazine’s website at: http://www.elmoremagazine.com/2017/03/reviews/shows/garth-brooks-at-the-broken-spoke

To see 2 of my videos of Garth Brooks performing at the Broken Spoke please go to the KVUE local ABC affiliate website at:

http://www.kvue.com/features/sxsw/garth-brooks-surprises-austin-with-broken-spoke-show/423666224

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My Weldon Henson CD review posted to Elmore magazine

11 May

Elmore Magazine | Weldon Henson – Honky Tonk FrontierAs Weldon Henson goes to show, anyone who has spent years performing in Texas dance halls knows a thing or two about country.

Since 2009, the country singer/songwriter has played a weekly gig at the Broken Spoke called “Two-Stepping Tuesdays,” a night he considers to be Austin’s own version of Dancing with the Stars.

He also often performs for crowds at Jenny’s Little Longhorn Saloon, Luckenbach and Coupland dancehalls.

His new album, Honky Tonk Frontier, offers ten of his original songs. Danceable songs like “I Need Wine” and “Just Believe,” effortlessly turn unique phrases for dancers with foot-tapping beats. Henson adds his edge to “Hey Bottle of Whiskey,” previously recorded by Don Singleton.

Henson joined the U.S. Air Force when he was 19 and taught himself to play guitar. Later, he earned his musical stripes as an enlisted soldier performing at private parties and officer’s clubs stationed in Utah, South Korea, and finally Abilene.

A hybrid of Dwight Yoakam and George Strait, Henson produced his fourth full-length album together with Tommy Detamore and Ricky Davis. His wife, Brooklyn Henson, also adds background vocals as slick as a honky tonk dance floor.

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Please see my review posted to Elmore magazine by following this link:

http://www.elmoremagazine.com/2015/05/reviews/albums/weldon-henson-honky-tonk-frontier

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