Busy Weekend

If you’re in Dallas to visit or you’re lucky enough to live here, let me recommend a couple of fun events you ought to check out this weekend.

Friday night, my guitar hero husband will be playing in two bands: The Big Guns and Bag O’ Wire, at the Lakewood Theater for Live At The Hot Klub, a punk rock club reunion type gig featuring reunited punk bands of course. If you’re a Facebook user, check this link to view a promotional video for the event.

Then, early Saturday, from 8am until 1pm I will be selling my critter creations at the White Rock Local Market.

Hope to see you at one or both fun filled events.

Lead Vocals

Once upon a time, many years ago, I used to sing in a band. Both here in Dallas and in Raleigh, NC. Mike played lead guitar and I was the vocalist and many other members came and went. We were called, at different times, The Leopard Society, The Miss Patti Band and The Big Gundown. The Big Gundown was the most recent incarnation and that was over ten years ago.

About half of our material was instrumental, focusing on Mike’s fabulous guitar playing. Along the way, I grew weary of singing in bars. When yet another bass player left and we were about to embark upon finding his replacement, I suggested that the band become instrumental, no singer, no me. And I offered their name, The Big Guns. The rest is history. The Big Guns have been rocking ever since.

There is a reason I am dredging up all this ancient history. An upcoming  reunion event is resuscitating one of Mike’s old punk bands, Bag O’ Wire. The lead vocalist for that band now lives in Nashville and will only be able to get here the day before the gig to rehearse. The other guys live here and want to rehearse more than once. Do you see where I’m going with this? I’m the fill in, the substitute, the temporary lead singer.

So singing with a band again took me down memory lane and I dug up a couple of mp3s of The Big Gundown for you to download. One’s an original tune by Mike and me and the other is a cover. Enjoy.

To The Last Drop of Blood

Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood

photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jf-sebastian/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Huichol Beaded Necklace

image by kreimermusic

Back in March, Mike and I went to the Dallas Guitar Show. I’ve been to the show many times before, even worked a booth there a few years ago. Mike not only plays guitar, he sells them. He’s a manufacturer’s representative for Godin Guitars. So we basically live in guitar world. Therefore, a trip to a guitar show is not usual for us. Discovering fabulous Huichol art at a guitar show, well, that is very unusual.

There was a booth set up for the Hermes Music Foundation. They had on display several guitars that were beaded by Huichols, some beaded guitar straps and some fabulous beaded necklaces. A television was playing the story of the Huichol people and explaining how the foundation was helping with aid of food, supplies and musical instruments.

There was a photo of a wonderful beaded guitar that was given to Carlos Santana. It was spectacular. The guitars on display were available for purchase/a donation. But, unfortunately, it was well beyond our financial comfort zone. Although we both agreed a Huichol beaded guitar was just what our Huichol collection needed, we also acknowleged the money thing. We didn’t have enough to splurge on a beaded guitar.

But we did have enough to purchase this wonderful necklace and it not only hangs on display in my bedroom, I get to wear my Huichol art out into the world. The skill and talent of the Huichol people always amazes me.

Saturday Night

Saturday night, if you live in Dallas or are lucky enough to be visiting, come on down to Deep Ellum to experience the Nervebreakers rocking show at Club Dada. Click on Mike’s cute 1977 butt for a sneak preview: another one of Frank Campagna’s great video productions. But be warned, it is only available for viewing through Facebook, so you may or may not encounter difficulties or required sign up etc.

Hijack the Radio

Frank Campagna created another fabulous video spot to promote the upcoming Nervebreakers gig on April 11 at Club Dada in Dallas. Enjoy.

Austin Rockin’ Weekend

I had the best time last weekend in Austin during SXSW being a good groupie for my punk rock husband. Saw lots of old friends, ate great food, did a little shopping on South Congress and of course, the music was fantastic

We stayed in the hills

My Punk Rock Husband

Nervebreakers Promo Video by Frank Campagna

You can find the Nervebreakers on myspace and facebook.

The Nervebreakers are getting ready to perform live for the first time in 15 years,
don’t miss it.

Only three shows scheduled.

Friday, 3/20/09 (5PM) @ Owl Tree Roasting, 3421 N. Interstate 35, Austin 78722
Saturday, 3/21/09 (7PM), @ Antones Record Shop, 2928 Guadalupe, Austin 78705
Saturday, 4/11/09, @ Club Dada, 2720 Elm, Dallas 75226

Check them out!

Punk Rock, Baby

I think I have mentioned before that my husband Mike is a fabulous guitar player. His current band, The Big Guns, are playing as we speak at a cool club near downtown Dallas called Lee Harvey’s. I was more in the work mode rather than the play mode and decided to stay home. I have been busy in my studio for almost the entire day working on a Plushteam group project I will share with you when complete. When I’m done with this little break, it is back to the studio to finish my creation. If you have checked the Big Guns link, you know that they are an instrumental band. Really great instrumental band. Yes, I’m biased. So go to their MySpace page here and listen to their music and decide for yourself.

So what does this have to do with punk rock, you ask? When Mike and I first met in Houston many, many years ago, he was in a punk rock band, the Nervebreakers. I laughed when he told me. He didn’t look like any punk rockers I had ever seen. He looked normal. I went to a club and experienced the Nervebreakers for myself. Punk rock, baby. He still looked normal to me, but the rest of the band….

The Nervebreakers released records, toured and had quite the reputation here in Texas. They even had the opening act gigs for big time rock “stars” including The Police, Ramones, Clash and The Sex Pistols. This was the seventies, mind you. Things were different then. Music came on vinyl and there were lots of radio stations that weren’t owned by Clear Channel.

The other day he decided to join me in Flickr fun and upload the pictures from his punk rock days and earlier. The local free paper has already noticed and posted about Mike’s pictures Friday. The writer called it “Haskins’ recently uploaded memories”. You may view them as well, just click here. Enjoy.

Bodacious Boots

A few months ago I posted about going to the screening of a documentary on cowboy boots. My husband’s band The Big Guns had contributed a few songs to the film’s soundtrack. Well now you too can see this cool film. Just click here and order yourself a DVD of the film. Only $17.95! Its all Texas and cowboys and great music and Kinky Friedman all wrapped up in a fun and entertaining little film.

Friday Night

Dallas readers looking for a fun night with a great band should check out my husband’s band The Big Guns’ gig Friday night, see poster below. I take no credit for the poster, one of the band’s fans created it. But I enjoy it and I’ll be at the gig so if you’re seeking fun and great sounds, hit this gig.