Author: adventgx

Texas Music Pickers does it again! With this line-up debuting on Friday night featuring the Red Dirt music’s sensation Josh Grider, the groundbreaking singer/songwriter Drew Kennedy, and Country’s new up and coming artist Sarah Olivia Buss, there is no doubt it will be a night to remember. 

After listening to Josh Grider’s albums and conducting some “extensive” research, it was obvious to hear that Grider is in this for the music. He has been around the Country/Red Dirt music scene for over 10 years now, continuing to succeed and develop a solid credibility in his ability. His nostalgic, classic Country sound seems to be inspired by the combination of Country greats such as Garth Brooks and Billy Currington with a Texas Country way of story telling that’s both relatable and completely unique. He’s been recognized for his talent by appearing at festival gigs, opening for nationally known artists, and for selling over 30,000 copies of his song “Crazy Like You” featured on his album “Million Miles To Go.” Grider’s big break came in 2013 after signing a publishing deal with AMP Entertainment and partnering with Paradigm Talent Agency who became his booking reps. Appearing on a TV show, creating new music, and touring around the U.S., is only the beginning of this Country sensation’s story. I believe he represents what Country is and what it always should be: a hard worker pursuing their dreams, singing from the heart, and willing to risk it all for the gift they were given. The Grand Stafford is excited to hear him play his new stuff (“Brokedown,” 2015), his old stuff (“The Gettin’ There,” 2012), and his older stuff (“Million Miles To Go,” 2007) and notice the consistency in his work and his ability to capture to his audience.

Drew Kennedy is, like I said before, a groundbreaking singer/songwriter. I think to say he is thoughtful is an understatement. This guy has produced 7 albums worth of genuine, pure-hearted music as well as written a novel. So it’s obvious Kennedy has a lot to say, but the depth at which he expresses himself and the standard for which he holds his music to blows me away. After listening to a few of his albums (especially “Fresh Water in the Salton Sea,” 2011), I sat there feeling enlightened and understood. He reaches depths and paints pictures that are both beautiful and complex, asking his listeners to think, to paint along with him. Kennedy’s creation doesn’t end at creating music and writing songs and stories, he has also co-founded the Red River Songwriters’ Festival in Red River, New Mexico. So, keep your eye on our friend Drew, and on his latest album “Sad Songs Happily Played.” Big, beautiful art has already come from this fellow and I can’t even begin to imagine what’s next!

Lastly, the beautiful Sarah Olivia Buss will be opening for these fellas this Friday evening. Gracing us with her distinct and angelic voice, Buss has a talent that is beyond her years. With the angst of Miranda Lambert and power of Carrie Underwood, she combines them to create a sound that is beautiful and rare in an artist her age. Her confidence exudes through her honesty and strong voice making her someone to keep an eye on because this chick definitely has something special.

So come out and join the Stafford in experiencing a night of raw, hardworking talent that expresses the freedom that creating and listening to music can offer! Doors open at 7 PM and the show starts at 8 PM. Buy your tickets here. And listen to a sneak peak of the evening here with the Grand Stafford’s exclusive Texas Music Pickers Spotify playlist. 

Statesboro Revue 

If we’re honest, the true weight of any band or artist is chiefly determined by how they translate to us in a live performance setting. Can they breach that intangible border between the stage and the gathered onlookers? Can they slip in like a steady rising state of inebriation, stealing our attention, controlling our emotions and ultimately drawing us into their world? Does their energy continue to vibrate within us well after the last chords have been played and our daily life comes to reclaim us? These are probably some of the questions one writer from Rolling Stone had running through his head before he proclaimed Statesboro Revue as one of the highlights of the 2009 South by Southwest Conference and Festival. Statesboro Revue goes back to 2008, but the evolving vision of front man and primary songwriter Stewart Mann goes back much further. It’s a journey down many roads from Texas to Tennessee to California and back, all in a search for that perfect, unspoiled place for his music to grow roots. Year after year in city after city, it became clear that those roots had taken hold on stage and from there grew into a groove oriented, old school rock and roll band, the likes of which have not been seen in quite some time.

Never being afraid to aim high,  Statesboro Revue released their debut album Different Kind of Light produced by Grammy-winning David Z (Prince, Jonny Lang, Buddy Guy, Govt Mule) in 2009. Hitting the Texas Music Chart with two Top 20 singles, the blues rock effort quickly drew a dedicated fan base to their stages, but this was just a prelude to the tour de force that is their album Ramble on Privilege Creek,  released in April 2013. Described by Mann as earthier with catchier hooks, this new music is pure living energy that winds through light and lofty atmospheres down through the depths of sweet Celtic miseries and over to angry growls through clenched teeth, all without ever losing that gypsy pulsation that is the very definition of rock and roll. “This album is extremely broad in subject matter and style, in musicality and production, and I couldn’t be happier about it. I’ve always strived to create a sound that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel; merely merge the little idiosyncrasies of all my influences and shape them in a manner that might someday be looked upon as my own unique sound. I think this record is as close as I have ever been to accomplishing that goal.”

Reminiscent of singers from decades past, Stewart Mann’s soulful voice is both evident and familiar. His seasoned timbre is well-worn but polished enough to have landed him the starring role in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at the historic Cameo Theatre in San Antonio, Texas. Joining Stewart is younger brother Garrett Mann, the lead guitar player who holds down the fort, then lets loose when the song calls for it. On bass guitar is Musicians Institute alumnus Ben Bradshaw, providing backbone and foundation, all while mixing in melodic leads and runs that only a player of his experience can muster. Drummer Kris Schoen’s ability to both drive the tunes and lay down a lazy snare for the slow groove furthers the dancing frenzy that ensues at a Statesboro Revue show. The all-star list of shared stages more than hints that this all-inclusive working band is truly worth their weight. The Statesboro Revue has played with the Los Lonely Boys, The Wailers, the Allman Brothers Band, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Whiskey Myers, Dirty River Boys, Willie Nelson, Charlie Robison, Ryan Bingham, Reckless Kelly, Turnpike Troubadours, Randy Rogers Band, Bob Schneider, War, Arrested Development, Eli Young Band, Marshall Tucker Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Will Hoge.

The Cover Letter 

Constant movement, gripping melodies, and energetic performances make this five-piece band captivating. With their rolling beats, tight vocal harmonies, and rustically familiar sound, you can’t help but fall in love with The Cover Letter.

With an ethereal blend of guitar and keys, a propelling bass line and split-stage percussion, The Cover Letter boasts an enthralling and compelling sound.

Formed in 2013, the band draws parallels from early Fleetwood Mac, Arcade Fire, and Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros while melodically gritty lead vocals offer a soothing and rugged edge to their expressive music. These musicians showcase their versatility by playing multiple instruments on stage.

With a live show that’s never static, the band members seamlessly swap their instruments, leaving the audience with a unique and diverse experience.

The Cover Letter released their self-titled EP in early February.

Listen to our Statesboro Revue & The Cover Letter playlist on Spotify now!

On the evening of February 13^th at 8:00 PM, the Grand Stafford will be hosting the Century Singers of Texas A&M for a night of melodious celebration and romance. The Century Singers is a talented troupe who represent Texas A&M within the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorale as well as entertain alongside Texas A&M Chamber Orchestra to create classic and groundbreaking performances. Originally named New Tradition Singers in 1971 due to being the first co-ed chorus and organization at Texas A&M, they were eventually renamed the Century Singers to honor the 100 years that Texas A&M had been established in 1976. Under the direction of Dr. Eric Posada, the group has traveled both across the country and around the world, as well as annually touring around Texas during the spring to metropolitan cities such as Houston. They have recorded a version of the poem “In Memoriam” written by David Harrigan, which is heard at every Aggie Muster around the world. Amongst the many talented composers, the group has represented and/or sung on behalf of Ola Gjeilo, Johannes Brahms, and Michael John Trotta, who is writing an exclusive piece for the group to debut at Carnegie Hall. The Century Singers will be performing in New York City at Carnegie Hall this upcoming March and thus have prepared an incredible evening for the Bryan/College Station area to benefit their trip to the prestigious venue. 

So, grab your sweetheart and treat them to an enchanting evening of romance and the musical art of the Century Singers while supporting talented students in their endeavor to perform at Carnegie Hall. Purchase your ticket here.

Today’s Artist Spotlight shines upon the Houston-native band, Vox Vocis. Focusing on alternative indie/progressive rock music styles since 2011, the band is made up of Alex Vaquera belting vocals and playing guitar, Alejandro Nunez strumming the bass, and Zachary Burton beating the drums, whom all come together to collaborate, creating a sound that’s both original and enticing. This up and coming band’s sound has been said to be comparable to bands that of Coheed and Cambria and The Receiving End of Sirens. But what makes Vox Vocis unique from the others is their ability to use the art of storytelling to produce a sense of adventure, the band walking side by side with its listeners, as they travel through ballads beckoning for deeper understanding. The mission behind the band’s purpose is expressed through the definition of their name, “vox vocis,” which means “voice of voice,” giving you a peek of the greater picture painted through their lyrics. Each of their albums, “The Winter” (2014) and “In the Arms of the Sun” (2016), tell a tale about independence, Cadence, and finding the music, the voice, within the journey. “In the Arms of the Sun,” being their first full-length album, will be the band’s main focus of the evening’s experience. 

So come on out Wednesday evening to rock out with these boys as well as our friends And Then Suddenly, Luca, Electric Astronaut, and Rogues Among Us and get ready to embark on an adventure you didn’t know you needed. 

Check out the exclusive Spotify playlist here. And then buy your tickets here. See you at the show!

Our friends at Texas Music Pickers are coming back tomorrow, January 28th, and they’re bringing a great group of artists, Jake Worthington, Shotgun Rider, and Brad Gomez, with them! Jake Worthington is a traditional country artist from La Porte, Texas, who received his first big break on NBC’s show, “The Voice,” when he won runner-up during Season 6 in 2014. While his time on the show, Jake released two songs that reached the Top 20 on Billboard Heatseekers. Following his success on “The Voice,” Jake joined the other finalists on The Voice National Tour, where they played some of the largest venues and arenas in some of the biggest cities in the country. In October 2015, Jake released his debut EP that reached #6 on the Billboard South Central chart.

Performing alongside Jake Worthington is the Country Rock band Shotgun Rider. Reigning from the Texas panhandle, the band is made up of Logan Samford, the band’s lead singer, and Anthony Enriquez, the band’s lead guitarist and the primary songwriter for the group. Joined and completed by an impressive band from the Lubbock area, Shotgun Rider is determined to launch their unique style of Country Rock into the expanding Texas Music scene.

Lastly, one of our local favorites, Brad Gomez, will be supporting this top-notch Texas country evening and will not disappoint. He has performed at the Stafford and at venues all around the Bryan/College Station area and is incredibly talented. We are excited to welcome back this young, gifted artist. So, come on out, crack a cold one, and experience a wonderful Texas Country evening with some of the newest talents in town! Get your tickets here.

P.S. Don’t miss out on this Spotify playlist to give you a little sneak peek on an evening you won’t sure forget!