PJH Studios

Tag: live music

  • Show #23 – Jessie Frye Band and Olivine at Queen City

    Originally, I planned to venture to The Grotto for a rap show. Not wanting to deal with accessibility issues, I opted to head downtown to check out Queen City Music Hall, a newer venue in Fort Worth. I paid my five dollars and descended the elevator to the music hall, which, is pretty much a dance club with a stage. The dance floor still lays in the middle, and plush velvet chairs line the back walls with random bar tables and stools through out the floor area.

    Jessie Frye Band led the lineup for the night. She and her band rocked out. She swayed, shimmied and swung her hair back and forth, charismatically engaging the audience at the right moments. With the music, it felt seductive. And the music soared up and down with hooks, melodies and inventive lead guitar solos. The drummer and bassist both looked like they were having fun. In a way, the band feels like what Pat Benetar would sound like today.

    Olivine… Jessie Frye led with enthusiasm and rock and then two of Olivine’s guitarists start their set with three straight acoustic songs, sucking energy right out of the room. It didn’t help that the front man kept trying to engage the audience between songs. It felt forced. Also, I kept thinking, “So, Dashboard Confessional’s coming back.” I wanted to stay long enough to see and hear what they were like as a full band, plugged in, and I got Fall Out Boy. Nasally pop punk.

    I left.

    Queen City had an interesting crowd–parents, random clubbers attempting to take self pics while stupidly drunk, suit types (one of which looked like Al Pacino in Scarface, minus the machine gun and cocaine). The sound was great and no accessibility issues at all.

  • Show #22 – Terry Rasor and Amos Staggs at Chubby’s Burger Shack

    I decided to take my father out for a burger and a beer. Terry Rasor still had his standing gig at Chubby’s, and tonight he brought with him Amos Staggs. In between songs, Amos said this was their last stateside show before they both go on a cruise ship for a 7 day tour. Not too shabby.

  • Show #21 – Bobby Duncan at Fred’s

    Bobby Duncan does acoustic rock in the style of Edwin McCain, sparse, earnest and direct. He’s fine. Pleasant. Just didn’t seem to catch my interest. It’s clear he has talent.

  • Show #20 – Johnny Case Trio at Scat Jazz Lounge

    Chilling with some standard jazz tunes. Scat Jazz Lounge on a Tuesday or Wednesday night deserves kudos as an underrated date night spot. Cool ambiance, cocktails, not crowded, smoky or too loud.

  • Show #19 – Don Delilo Trio

    Due to a horrible parking job, albeit unintentionally, my ramp in to The Grotto was blocked. Given this opportunity to not go home wafting of other people’s Marlboro’s, I drove to Eddie V’s for a jazz trio.

    This audible cost me a $10 fancy margarita.

  • Show #18 – Brett Watts Songwriters in the Round at White Elephant Saloon

    It was like a VH1 Story Tellers episode, where a group of local songwriters sat on a stage, played songs and talked about the stories behind the songs. One artist said, “If you know a songwriter, and you do stupid stuff, you’ll be part of a song.”

    Brett Watts Songwriters in the Round at White Elephant Saloon
    Brett Watts Songwriters in the Round at White Elephant Saloon

  • Show #17 – Jody Jones at Fred’s

    Lunch time. Fred’s Texas Cafe. Jody Jones played his Texas country singer songwriter songs as I ate the taco fries with jalapeños. My siblings and their respective fiancées joined.

  • Show #16 – Devin Leigh at Shaw’s Burgers

    A cool August night on a patio at Shaw’s Burgers. Devin Leigh brought classic guitar influences to classic rock and country covers.

  • Show #15 – Jazz Quartet at Fort Worth Library

    Halfway through a concert a day, and Fort Worth Library’s Third Thursday Jazz concert series had the largest crowd. Easily 200, 250 plus people sat in the grand atrium, at times standing cramped against back walls. I expected a couple dozen people chilling while the standard piano, sax, bass and drum players went through jazz staples. Oh, no.

    This was an event. With cookies.

    The musicians enthusiastically played Duke Ellington, Herbie Hankock, Miles Davis. The drum and bass solo received shouts of “yeah!” and a swell of applause. People in Fort Worth appreciate their jazz.

    In front of me sat a WWII veteran in a wheelchair. He bopped along to the rhythm of the music, and at one point yelled, “The Duke!”

    photo (14)

  • Show #14 – Jason Elmore at Mambo’s Cantina

    Mambo’s Cantina is an odd little bar. Tucked away on Houston Street at the bottom of a hotel, you’d miss it walking by. Inside, the blood red walls and sparse lighting create a macabre vibe. If you’re hungry, they serve Mexican food. The jazz lounge feel and south of the border cuisine make a unique combo with a Texas blues singer songwriter on stage.

    Jason Elmore played for a light but growing crowd, earning catcalls from the ladies and approving nods from the gentlemen in the room. His finger ran up and down the fretboard strumming traditional blues chords and rhythms.

    My favorite line of the evening, “I asked for water/she brought me gasoline”.