Dia De Los Toadies 9 at River Road Ice House!

It's been announced! The Toadies are bringing their 9th Annual Dia De Los Toadies to River Road Ice House on Saturday, June 11, 2016! This has been described as "Willie's picnic for a new generation" and it's going to be HUGE! Reverend Horton Heat has already been added, and more will be announced as they are made available!

Tickets on sale Friday February 5!

Artist Spotlight: HONEYHONEY

I had a great conversation with Ben Jaffe, multi-instrumentalist and harmony vocalist in HONEYHONEY the other day. We talk about their upcoming full band show at River Road Ice House on Thursday, February 11, 2016, as well as he and lead singer, violinist and banjoist Suzanne Santo's musical relationship that rapidly blossomed into something beautiful, and has continued to grow into an experience that you really need to let into your life.

Get TICKETS to the February 11th River Road Ice House show! If you're participating in our "share/retweet" contest, winner(s) will be notified on Sunday, February 7, 2016!

For a little history, Suzanne and Ben were introduced by a mutual friend Todd Averback in 2006. "The Double" or "T O Double" as Todd has been nicknamed, is a producer/writer/audio engineer who has worked with acts such as Dr Dre, 50 Cent and Weezer to name a few, but he thought their writing and musical talents would compliment each other, and after 9 years of writing, touring and playing together, Todd's suspicions have been well confirmed!

In 2008, after urging from Jenn Littleton of Red 4 Music, and finally entering and winning a "battle of the bands" radio contest where Kiefer Sutherland and Jude Cole of Ironworks Music were able to hear Ben and Suzanne perform, they released an EP "loose boots" in 2008 and a their first LP "First Rodeo" in 2011 under Ironworks Music. Sutherland directed and co-starred in their first music video "Little Toy Gun" in 2008, which was my first introduction to them when Apple featured it as a video of the week.

In 2011 HONEYHONEY released their second LP "Billy Jack" under Lost Highway Records, which seems to have dissolved into Universal Music Group. Before falling off the map, Lost Highway made quite a mark by working with some amazing musical acts, and even producing movie soundtracks including one of my favorites "O Brother Where Art Thou". A few well written, directed and produced HONEYHONEY music videos have popped up in the past few years, including the now 2-part "Angel of Death" (2011) and its follow-up "You And I" which was released about 2 months after their 3rd LP "3" which hit the streets in June of 2015. "3" was released through Rounder Records/Concord Music Group, and definitely has a similar vibe, but is even more mature and refined and has left me satisfied, but wanting more from this duo.

Suzanne and Ben are currently in the process of wrapping up the last couple of months of touring on the heels of releasing "3" last June. When they finish up this last bit of touring, they plan to really "sit down" with some songs they've already worked on but not performed, and start really working on their next project.

One very noble project Suzanne and Ben have been working on that I wanted to make sure and mention, is setting up concerts in conjunction with high school music programs to arrange and perform some songs with the high school band and/or orchestra in a city, and then donate proceeds from those shows into that local music program. They did the first show of this type in April 2014 at Mt Greylock Regional High School where Ben graduated, and they plan to do the next in Ohio where Suzanne grew up and if it works out they'll continue to try to do shows like these from time to time to help give back to music education.

Remaining winter/spring 2016 dates:
  Feb 03 Ivywild School Colorado Springs, CO
  Feb 04 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
  Feb 05 Sherbino Durango, CO
  Feb 06 Taos Mesa Brewing El Prado, NM
  Feb 11 River Road Ice House New Braunfels, TX
  Feb 12 House of Blues Dallas Dallas, TX
  Feb 13 House of Blues Houston Houston, TX
  Feb 14 Spanish Moon Baton Rouge, LA
  Feb 18 1884 Lounge Memphis, TN
  Feb 19 Camp House Chattanooga, TN
  Feb 20 The Grey Eagle Asheville, NC
  Feb 21 Cats Cradle Carrboro, NC
  Mar 02 Knitting Factory Brooklyn, NY
  Mar 03 World Cafe Philadelphia, PA
  Mar 04 The Hamilton Washington, DC
  Mar 05 Club Cafe Pittsburgh, PA
  Mar 10 The Bishop Bloomington, IN
  Mar 11 River Roots Music Series Madison, IN
  Mar 12 Memorial Opera House Valparaiso, IN
  Mar 13 Seven Steps Up Spring Lake, MI
  Mar 16 The Ark Ann Arbor, MI
  Mar 19 Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH


Brother Nothing returns to Phoenix Saloon w/debut album

Josh Field & Brother Nothing are no strangers to New Braunfels. They've played New Braunfels over the past few years including The Phoenix Saloon, Tavern in the Gruene, the 2013 Food Trucks for Freedom and more! On Friday February 12 they return to The Phoenix Saloon for a FREE show with their debut album "All In My Mind" which officially comes available on February 5!

“There’s something timeless about the dark rolling melodies of Brother Nothing’s woodsy rock and rasping Americana,” wrote Phoenix Saloon’s Ross Fortune of the gruff, yet tender sound of singer-songwriter Josh Field and Brother Nothing.

“I’m blessed,” says Field, calling his young band’s success a collaborative effort that includes himself (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Daniel David (lead guitar), Brandon Elizondo (percussion), and Doug Koeppe (bass).

Influenced by everything from country and rock to soul, blues, and reggae, the band’s wide-ranging style comes through in its first full-length album, All In My Mind (February 5, 2016). A display of honest writing talent by Field, these songs will put listeners at ease (“Morning Shade”) and leave them taken aback (“Cold, Cold Ground”). Other highlights include the title track, “Nowhere Town,” and “Hippie,” an homage to love and the hypocrisy of denying it.

A thriving part of Austin’s music scene, Josh Field and Brother Nothing will be sharing their new music with fans at various venues in 2016. For news and tour dates, visit joshfieldmusic.com.

Blowin' Off Steamboat 4: The Aftermath

The staff of the TX Citizen and Music of New Braunfels just successfully made it through our fourth year of Blowin' Off Steamboat Music Festival this past Saturday! We've had this event each year at Freiheit Country Store, and this year Freiheit changed things up and built a beautiful new bar and opened one side of the dance hall with a larger covered area, which helps people spread out a bit more and still enjoy the great music out of the elements.

This year, it was our honor to have Marsha Mudge as our beneficiary, and Marsha was feeling well enough on Saturday to spend a few hours with us! Marsha is a school nurse in NBISD, she is battling stage 4 breast cancer, raising two young boys and lost her husband Coach John Mudge a little less than two years ago after he suffered a cerebral stroke. Read more about Marsha's story at facebook.com/mudgestrong.

Our live music started as always with acoustic performers at noon. We enjoyed acoustic performances from BJ Thibodeaux, Nick Rogers, Bo Porter, Kris Smith, Bo Brumble, Brent Michael Wood, Tony Taylor, Alli Mattice, Doug Kent, Matt Kersh, Bret Graham, Tiffany Valentine & Colt Buckalew of Texas Crossing, Dan Adams, Jade Marie Patek, Bryan Catalani, Kori Free of The Groove Hounds, Breelan Angel, Andrae Blissett & Greg Francescon of Whiskey Rodeo, Jomo Edwards & Jess Clifford of The Possum Posse, Jesse Stratton and Daniel Thomas Phipps!

We also had 6 amazing full band performances from Dennis Jay & Lonesome Town, Carol Cochran & Two Way Street, Texas Renegade, Sour Bridges, Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros, and Matt Begley & Bitter Whiskey!

Walt Wilkins joined us for our inaugural event back in 2013 with an acoustic performance, and was gracious enough to return this year with his mighty Mystiqueros! Dennis Jay was an acoustic performer last year, and he returned with his band Lonesome Town on the heels of releasing a new Lloyd Maines produced album which should be released within the next month! Carol Cochran & Two Way Street have become a Blowin' Off Steamboat tradition, as they are the only full band to have performed for us every year, the remainder of the full band line up typically features bands we've never brought you before, so we can bring you as much variety as possible!

We also want to say a special thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors this year! Comaltex Insurance, Papa Murphy's Pizza, Keep Austin Country, NB Mattress, Lonestar Medical PA, The Purple Chair, Smokey D, Tri-County Paint & Spray, Gregersen Family Chiropractic, The Nut Doctor, Kitchen & Bath Solutions and Bonzai Japanese Steak & Sushi!

Last but not least, I have eternal gratitude for BJ Thibodeaux and Robert Steves. Each year they set up, run and tear down our sound system, and this year they built a wall of sound that made every performance sound amazing! Jeremiah Hamilton was on hand and helped them really dial it in.

Join us next year on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Freiheit Country Store for our 5th Annual Blowin' Off Steamboat Music Festival!

Honeyhoney coming to River Road Ice House!!!

Photo by Kelsey Heng
Check out this interview/artist spotlight!

Pardon my excitement, but I've loved this band for about 8 years, and I'm finally going to see them live in MY town! This doesn't help your argument that your town has cool music at all, because New Braunfels is cornering the market on cool music and it's not a slow pace!

Where: River Road Ice House
When: Thursday, February 11, 2016
How much: $10 WELL SPENT
Tickets: GETEM!

Watch this video for one of the great songs "You And I" off their new album "3". This video is a followup of sorts, really a sequel to their 2012 video "Angel Of Death". My introduction to Honeyhoney was their 2008 video "Little Toy Gun". Go watch them all, and join me on February 11th for this show!

New Album "Breathless" From Sam Riggs

Sam Riggs first came onto our radar when he released his EP "Lighthouse" in 2012. It was an extremely solid piece of work, and it planted him firmly into our secretive and unpublished list of artists to watch closely. In 2013 their full length album "Outrun the Sun" was released and confirmed our suspicion that Sam Riggs would become a mainstay in Texas music for years to come.

Here's a little info about his new album "Breathless", available on February 19th, 2016. We can't wait to hear it!

Produced by Sam Riggs himself along with Eric Herbst, “Breathless” is a sincere, unfiltered look into the person Sam has become. The album’s first single “The Lucky Ones” represents the first leg of his journey, a story told through 20/20 hindsight about the fortunes of struggle with a cameo performance from the University of North Texas Drum Line. “Gravity” is a true anchor on the album depicting that specific period in life between when you have to get out, and when you actually can. Well throughout the album you get a real sense of Sam’s more vulnerable side, and the way he writes about a man’s response to a women’s spell is the stuff of bestselling novels. Considering lyrics like “Just one kiss from your novocaine lips and you take all my pain away” (“Breathless”), “One more kiss is all I need to get through. I guess you’re just a habit I can’t break” (“Second Hand Smoke”), and “The fire in your touch, it’s like a needle in my veins” (“One More Chance To Stay”), you see a man who has warred with the dangerous addictions of love, but also one that has not been afraid to wave the white flag of surrender. All this is not to say that the album is without muscle. “Wake The Dead” feels like pure adrenaline, a heart racing ride in honky tonk rap style. And finally, “High On A Country Song” is the Sam Riggs live show experience coming through the speakers, where the energy is so thick you can cut it with a knife. In total, “Breathless” is the sound you hear clearly above the racket of mediocrity, and it signals that a new age of “artist” has arrived.
Upcoming tour dates:
January 23rd - Commerce, TX-Drunken Mule Saloon
January 29th- Wichita, KS-The Port of Wichita
January 30th-Ft. Worth, TX-Ft. Worth Stock show and Rodeo
February 4th-Sugarland, TX-San Antonio Rose
February 5th-Spring, TX-Big Texas
February 6th-Port Arthur, TX-Mardi Gras Southeast Texas
February 18th-Cedar Park, TX-Wild West
February 19th-Helotes, TX-Floore’s Country Store
February 20th-Dallas,TX-Mardi Gras Texas Style
February 25th-Wichita Falls, TX-Denim & Diamonds
February 26th-Ft. Worth, TX-Whiskey Girl Saloon
February 27th-Stephenville, TX-City Limits

links:
SamRiggsMusic.com
Sam Riggs Music on Facebook
Sam Riggs Music on Twitter

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