The Soul is Full

You can capture neither lightening nor AWESOMENESS in a bottle. The best that you can do is to be as present as possible during the awesomeness – then make some kind of record of the awesomeness so that you can remind yourself later just how awesome it was! And so, I blog. I took a few pics & a few videos – and when the glow of Texas begins to fade I can come back here and relive some tiny portion to refill my soul.

Every year Ashley & I try to attend Pat's private show for his fans in Texas, followed that night by his big Sold Out show at Billybobs. This weekend was our fourth such journey. We waivered about going to this event, mostly because we'd done it so many times and just thought maybe we should do something new but still get to spend our quality time together, (the real reason for our commitment to an annual trip) but in the end neither of us could discount our love of all things Pat Green… We did decide that this year we would do things a little different and skip the nights big show in favor of attending a show in Dallas – Texas Mardi Gras!

We began our trip early Saturday morning, and by early I mean pre-sun. We were excited though since we were headed for Texas and GOOD TIMES!!! We made record time to Ft. Worth and were among the very firsts attendees present, which is the secret for perfect seats… Not that there are bad seats – only about 150 people attend the private event – so – your gonna get some up close time with Pat. But we were up even closer than we normally are (which is usually 3-4 seats back from pat's boots – vs this time – 1 seat back from the boots). I had told Ash I was most curious about what Pat would say about his departure from his record label… and that was the first thing he addressed. I'm paraphrasing here, and actually I think erring on the side of gracious interpretation – but essentially he said he fired them because their input was more of a hindrance than a promotion. He appreciated that if they were going to put millions of dollars into a record that they would have a lot of "say so" - but their final product was a little too…. I think he said "plastic" – polished – whatever…. I couldn't agree more and I had cheered when I heard that he and RCA had parted ways. In a mirror of that – when he said "So… I fired my record label" the crowd Saturday hooped and hollered!!

While listening to Pat joke around with DJ and address the intimate gathering we were reminded yet again why we adore Pat… he's just freaking hilarious – you just can't be in his presence without your face hurting from laughing! The "show" part of the afternoon was short – but it was good. We soaked up the Green Glow with reckless abandon, breathing deep and taking it all in, again confirming that it's just one of my happy places… and happy places should be noted and visited frequently…. The show ended, and we were already realizing that there would be no Joe T. Garcia's and it was still going to be iffy if we were able to make the first act we wanted to see at Mardi Gras! So when Pat said "that's all folks" - we hit the ground literally running….

A slow trip thanks to the traffic back to Dallas, checked into the hotel (HYATT PLACE TOTALLY ROCKS! BTW) dropped our bags and ran out the door headed for Fair Park. One red bull and some ridiculously great food from Popeyes (OMG w/ the Red Beans and Rice) and we were arriving at Fair Park. Texas Mardi Gras is getting to be a bigger deal than I had imagined. I went the first year several years ago and it was well attended and lots of fun – but it was not TOTALLY F**KING NUTS… as the case was 2010. It took us a while to get parked and get in the building… But once we were in it was apparent that out timing was PERFECT. The line up included 20 bands, most of which Ash had never had an opportunity to see and even a couple of new comers to me… We had hoped to see Johnny Cooper at 4:30 – but there was just no way to make it happen… We had ended up parking in the "crew" area that they had opened up as an overflow and the walk to the venue from our car took us through the bus area. As we walked Ashley looked up and said, Nanna – this is Pat's bus. I initially shrugged it off saying I'm sure it wasn't, but she insisted and even claimed to see Pat through the window on the bus. Looking in, I couldn't say for sure one way or another…

We went on in. Ashley was most excited to see Cory Morrow and he was coming on stage just as we arrived…. We wormed our way in close enough to be properly sweated upon and settled in for the best Cory Morrow show that I have EVER seen… and I've seen him LOTS.. And playing fiddle for Cory was Brennen – Pat Green's fiddle player (who we had just left at Billybobs) so… apparently that WAS Pat's bus. At anyrate we were not graced with a "guest" appearance by Pat – but none was needed… The show was beyond words… There is just something that defies my ability to articulate, something about the energy that was present… These bands are only relatively known here in Oklahoma, but just a few hours south in Dallas Texas we might as well have been attending a Garth Brooks star studded event – the crowd was unbelievably large and they were packed into this stage area like literal sardines… but when thousands of people are all packed in together singing and experiencing the "moment" together it becomes something one has to live through to understand. Don't get me wrong – I'm not suggesting that the experience is limited to Texas Country Artists… I've been lucky enough to experience it lots in my life in lots of different situations – but there is something special about it every time!!

Cory was crazy good and he worked the crowd into a frenzy. He was jumping up and down and demanding that the crowd raise the roof on the place, and raise the roof they did. At one point he was seen donning a Wrestling hood mask thing and singing Ozzy's Crazy Train and doing it justice! I do not see how it could be possible for him to have been any better… He was "all in!" so to speak. The show was their mardi gras show and of course with the 6 point liquor flowing it was all an artist could do to keep the guys attention away from the "shows" ( * )( * ) going on in the crowd… and that was early.. you can just imagine how out of hand that got before it was all over and done with… After Cory Ashley thought it couldn't get any better but it would before the night ended.

We found some beer and bathrooms and next up on the stage was Roger Creager. I only saw a few songs of his, but I am now jonesing to see him for real… I've always thought I wanted to, but now I'm sure. We decided to head back and beat the rush to the other end where Casey Donahue Band was coming up. I'd never seen them either and was excited to see what they were like. The crowd continued to swell and by the time CDB (casey not Charlie Daniels) hit the stage we were in a sea of college kids who began singing every song the band threw out… Turns out I knew almost all of them and they put on a good show… We could have done without the crowd fights (no security needed apparently in Texas – they figure let um fight it out) but apart from that we were impressed. We cut out a few songs early to head to the other end where Boland was playing…

We managed to worm into the side area on Boland and got right up front. I always forget how much I like Boland till I see him live and hear that Ghost of Waylon voice… It's not about the jumping and running with Boland… it's about those smoother than fine Kentucky Bourbon voice and those steel guitar licks reminiscent of the music that your dad cut his teeth on… But least you think you have an old "crooner" on your hands… his second song out of the box should grab your attention when he hits the lyric "My Baby Loves Me when I'm Stoned…." It may not be rock and roll folks… but it's good OUTLAW Country… and it's satisfying!

After about half of Boland we decided to make a break for it to get closer to Kevin Fowler… Lyric recording Artist (or so I would learn later that night - but more on that in a later blog...) Kevin F*ing Fowler… Whose fans stole that lovely line from Pat F*ing Green… But if any other artists deserves to have fans shouting that phrase – I think it might be Kevin. We had a great spot and were getting closer to the front every minute. I'd primed Ashley that this would be a show not to be missed and Kevin gave everything I'd promised AND MORE. Just before Kevin came out – the Wolf (and I could go on for pages here – but the short version is that the Wolf used to be the ONLY Radio station in Dallas as far as anyone was concerned… they played a proper mix of Texas Country and Nashville, then they got bought out or sold out or whatever – and now they are pretty generic) in a move of infinite UN-wisdom decided to surprise the drunk Texas College kids with not Kevin Fowler – but the much less exciting (at least last night) Brandon Rhyder – who was simply trying to plug a new album… but bless his heart this was not a good idea. He and his guitar took the stage to massive booing (I on the other hand thought it was cool cause I like three or four songs that I know of his) and repeated shouts of "We want Kevin F**king Fowler… they were pelting him with beads and the like and then about half way through his first song he got doused with something that looked like it might have been a gallon of water… enough a roadie comes running out with a towel. But he handled it well telling "whomever" to F*cking quit it and that Kevin F*ing Fowler would be out in a minute – then going right back to his song…. The crowd died down – and he was right… soon it was time.

Now Kevin didn't close the show – Eli Young Band held that position – but I can't imagine a crowd being any more enthusiastic for anyone at anytime… Kevin took the stage to roars of approval and he opened his arms wide and screamed WELCOME TO TITTY CITY!!!!! Which set the crowd off even more… Bring it On…!!!

Kevin always puts on a great show – and for that will always have my respect and my patronage… He rocks the house! He's funny, talented and he knows what his crowd wants and how to deliver with the most punch… Ashley was sold within just a few minutes and I'm pretty sure her appreciation continued to grow… she screamed and sang as loud or louder than anyone – paying for it the following day with the loss of her voice… To say we enjoyed the show does not capture the moment at all – but it will have to do…

When Kevin closed, despite the desperate cries for an encore – it was time for Eli Young Band on the other end. Since we were headed by the Merch tables – we decided to grab the new Johnny Cooper CD. I just adore him, and have really enjoyed watching him develop and evolve over the last few years…. I've been listing to the two cuts from his new album that have being played on the Ranch and just had to have the CD. So, we stop and the merch guy was too busy texting to help me… I say to Ashley, loudly enough for him to hear "Do you think he realizes I have money and want to spend it???" Which got his attention… He was very apologetic and went to processing my order. About that time a guy walked up that I was positive was Johnny Coopers little brother (he had on a toboggan and just seemed a little shorter than I had decided Johnny was from seeing him before. I pointed out the guy to Ashley and was In the process of telling her that this young man looked sooo much like his brother Johnny – and the Merch boy who heard me indicated that this was actually Johnny and if we were interested we could have him sign our CD. I passed the CD to Ashley (as she is younger and cuter and I figured he'd more welcome the interruption coming from her) he saw her with the CD and approached her sliding his hand around her waist and giving her a big ole hug. He was gracious and cute and sweet and signed the cd and we let him resume his chat with a very interested and long legged blonde… it was onto Eli Young Band for us… Sadly though we had spent so much time at Johnnys booth that the band was on and playing and getting anywhere near the front was not even an option. We made the decision to watch a few songs on the big screen and then blow the joint in favor of not being stuck in traffic for hours… We left about midnight thirty and headed back to our wonderful awesome room where we unceremoniously crashed….. dreaming of basking in the Texas sun…..