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As one Houston DJ on KPFT put it, “It’s a great career, if you can afford it.” He was referring to being a musician, of course. For most artists, in any medium, life is an economic struggle, nevermind the minute to minute effort to remain optimistic about your life’s purpose. There is a sentiment among some non-musicians that the sheer gratification of playing music at all must surely be enough to make lean times tolerable. The fact is, an unpaid electric bill sucks for anyone and everyone, all the time, with the rare exception, possibly, of two people who’ve just fallen madly in love, wherein for approximately 3 weeks, life, in all it’s forms, is bliss.
For singer songwriter, Billy Bourbon, a former Galveston resident and occasional performer here, making a living in the music business requires an endless flow of optimism, energy and a day to day work ethic as vigorous as that of any corporate CEO.
“A friend of mine and I had a theory that if we devoted at least 8 hours a day to something involved in music, be it booking, songwriting, designing posters, we could be successful. It seems to be working. For the last 4 and a half years I’ve managed to keep the wolf from the door.”
With dwindling label support for smaller artists the role of an arts patron has become a necessity if some musicians are ever going to have a chance to record at professional recording studios. Billy Bourbon has been busy promoting his latest CD, Neverchange, produced with the help of a financial backer.
“Artists throughout history have found patrons. I would recommend this highly, if you’re a musician and you know someone who may have the money... there’s no harm in asking.”
Galveston Island was home for Billy Bourbon for nearly a year when he first arrived in Texas from Nebraska in 2005. Before Hurricane Ike Billy was playing two to three times a week at many different venues in Galveston.
“I wrote a lot of songs in Galveston. It was great to get up in the morning and walk to the ocean. Ike really whacked the area. Rebuilding will be slow... we have to keep pushing the politicians, keep picking away at it. Look at New Orleans, they’re just getting going again. It will take time.”
Support for independent artists by way of buying CDs, either at live shows or through the internet (on sites like iTunes and CDBaby) is key to the survival of musicians like Billy Bourbon and an important component to keeping local cultures thriving. Look for Billy Bourbon and his band this summer in Galveston playing his blend of Southern Rock and story tellin’ tunes.
Neverchange is Billy Bourbon’s third CD and is available at MyTexasMusic.com, iTunes, and CDBaby.com, along with his live performance schedule.
For most musicians some days are better than others but the day Bo Diddley places his hat on your head (on stage) and proclaims you to be “the next Bo Diddley” is a day that will generally stand out from the rest.
It was that day in 1991 for BOI (Born On the Island) guitarist, Hamilton Loomis, then 16 years old, that kept the songwriter, and showman singing and playing his blend of rock, blues and soul with all the enthusiasm you’d expect from someone carrying a torch passed from one of rock & roll’s greatest pioneers.
It doesn’t hurt, on the hard road of musician life, that Hamilton Loomis is an optimist at heart. Best Worst Day, a song form his 2007 CD Ain’t Just Temporary is evidence. Though frequently categorized as a blues artist, Hamilton admits to rejecting both the notion of labeling his music into one genre, or that blues music itself has to be about suffering.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think about what ‘blues’ means, and it’s basically just a way of telling a story. Willie Dixon wrote some of the greatest blues songs on the planet but he also wrote: just like a boll weevil love his cotton, an old dog love his bone, I love my baby, and I don’t care who know. So I ask you, does this cease to be blues?”
Loomis went so far as to recently drop his record label, Blind Pig, and form his own company largely on the premise that they were promoting him strictly as a blues artist.
“I had the amazing experience of learning from guys like Johnny Copeland, Albert Collins, Gatemouth Brown and of course, Bo Diddley, but I don’t want to duplicate what the masters did. I’m going to write about my experiences and attitudes towards things. I think it’s important that younger generations understand that most of our popular music today came from blues music. Guys like Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jonny Lang are about my age, and when we were coming up it was great to see teenagers coming to shows getting exposure to blues. But we have to take it to a new level, which is why I incorporate elements of soul, funk and rock into my music.”
Growing up on Galveston Island and listening to his parents records (everything from The Beatles to Bo Diddley) helped develop Hamilton’s personal style but he also sites the region itself as a big influence as well.
“The Texas Gulf Coast is a great melting pot of styles. You’re very close to Louisiana so you get some Cajun and Zydeco sounds. Gatemouth Brown was a big influence on my style. Bobby Bland recorded here in the 60’s. ZZ Top, of course, with their sound. They even wrote about the Balinese Room.”
Hurricane Ike wiped out the legendary Balinese Room but Hamilton Loomis, like so many musician’s who played the famous nightclub on the Gulf, (Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Duke Ellington) have fond memories.
“I’ve yet to find a place to match the vibe that place had. Such a rich history, a true Galveston icon.”
Hamilton Loomis is having a successful career by anyone’s standards but when he isn’t performing at one of nearly 175 live dates a year, everywhere from Galveston to Australia, he’s at home in Katy, Texas doing the work of any musician today trying to make a living in music: maintaining his website, writing, rehearsing, mailing out CD’s and promo packages.
“I’m a bit of a control freak so maybe I do more than I should. I’m happiest on stage though. That’s when I’m in my element. I’m really fortunate to be working, to have a full schedule.”
You can see Hamilton Loomis live Friday, June, 18th in Galveston at Moody Gardens. For a taste of what you might hear live check out www.HamiltonLoomis.com and listen to samples from his latest CD Live In England. Complete concert listings are also on the site along with CD ordering and downloading opportunities.
View the video interview with Hamilton Loomis. CLICK HERE.
“Hot rods, horses and music.”
For BOI (born on the island) soul singer, Pee Wee Bowen, these are a day’s essential ingredients. Not necessarily in that order.
Pee Wee has been feeding his horses every morning for 40 years, and singing his heart out every night for 52 years. All the while, cruising back and forth from his home in Dickinson, Texas to gigs around the Houston area in his beautifully restored, red and white 1955 Chevy Bel Air.
It was 1958 when a singer in a local band decided not to show up for rehearsal and Pee Wee Bowen was asked by a friend to fill in. Pee Wee had no experience but found his passion in an instant. He’s been “filling in” ever since, singing the songs of Chuck Berry, Otis Redding, Little Richard, Ray Charles and many others.
The son of musical parents, his father played violin, and his mother sang with the famed Manny Green Orchestra at the Pleasure Pier in Galveston (destroyed by hurricane Carla in 1961) Pee Wee Bowen is a true vocalist with a respect for great songwriting.
“We still do a 50’s medley that people love. It’s part Platters, part Roy Orbison, part Elvis. I’ve been blessed with a four octave range. My voice is more powerful now than it’s ever been. Of course, I don’t drink or smoke...”
Pee Wee admits this wasn’t always the case, smoking Salem cigarettes and drinking Jack’s beer in the 1960’s to try and sound more like one of his favorite blues singers, Bobby Blue Bland.
“It didn’t help,” Pee Wee says with a chuckle. “I’ve probably drank enough whiskey to sink the Titanic. No sense in being a hypocrite - the boss knows.”
Apparently it didn’t hurt either. Pee Wee was asked to sing with the Beach Boys in 1963, an offer he turned down in favor of remaining in Texas. He went on to perform with many great musical talents over the years, including Chuck Berry, Roy Head and BJ Thomas.
At 66 years of age Pee Wee still does 140 shows a year with all the enthusiasm he had in 1958. While Little Richard was Pee Wee’s first inspiration, it was something he heard Ray Charles say (his favorite singer) while helping Ray set up for a show, that has been Pee Wee’s guiding wisdom as an entertainer.
“When asked how he could sing What I Say night after night and have it sound great each time, Ray Charles said, ‘because some folks have never heard me do it’. I can have two people in a club and sing my heart out, or two hundred, it don’t matter. I remember these things.”
Drawing from a lifetime in music, Pee Wee Bowen is a consummate student of the art fom, making him humble yet confident. Young players would be remiss not to check out Pee Wee Bowen and observe a few musical lessons passed down from the masters.
The Pee Wee Bowen Band is playing every weekend in the Houston/Galveston area. Check www.peeweebowenband.com for complete concert listings.
Watch the video interview with Pee Wee Bowen. CLICK HERE.
A Zen Buddhist, a businessman, and a musician walk into a bar. Bartender says, “What can I get you, Fred?”
Fred Eaglesmith isn’t unusual in that he wears many hats, his uniqueness is in his well balanced approach to all things he engages in. Most famously, writing songs that continually reassure us someone understands how we feel.
Like an old mechanic fixing our cars time and time again, doing such a thorough job, even as we travel on with the inevitability of another breakdown, we feel confident that someone will be there to help us pick up the pieces. Someone who understands our frustrations, and helps us battle the futility of it all.
Fred’s songs are frequently cinematic landscapes, transporting listeners straight into the hearts of the sad and lonely, out to the dusty plains of rural America where trains roll through small towns, and trucks and relationships break down in perfect harmony. Norman Rockwell’s worst nightmare set to music.
And then there’s Fred the businessman, running his own label, a music store and a cafe most of his career. Around the time his first record was released in the early 80’s, he also ran a 6 million dollar a year wholesale flower company.
“I needed something to supplement my music career. I had 28 employees and a 15,000 sq. ft. building and I hated my life everyday. I lost it all in two days in the late 80’s. You really don’t know business until you’ve gone broke in one.”
It wasn’t the first time Fred Eaglesmith went broke. Growing up in Ontario, Canada, the family lost their farm and struggled economically. It was a volatile time for Fred, his songs, and bittersweet, comedic anecdotes between them during live shows, frequently allude to these times.
Early lessons in business and life may have influenced Fred’s record industry shrewdness. In an industry notorious for bad deals for musicians, Fred managed to do well in the 90’s with major labelpublishing and recording deals.
“Ultimately, when there’s a record deal somebody loses a lot of money. Either the artists or the label. Whoever loses the most money is mad at the other guy. So, (in the end) I wasn’t so mad... I wasn’t as angry as they were.”
Fred has earned a living for more than 30 years recording and touring the world over, mostly as a completely independent artist.
Despite escaping the corporate grip in 2001, Fred Eaglesmith admits to still being pissed off a lot of the time and has turned to Zen Buddhism for some inner peace.
“It’s very hard to not be angry, so that’s my struggle. To learn to quiet down. I’m a little better than when I was at 14, but no better since I was 24. I’m still pissed off, and I regret it everyday.”
Pissed off or not, Fred Eaglesmith delivers a healthy dose of well crafted Americana, singer-songwriter, songs that make many Texans very happy. Although he is Canadian, for much of his career Fred was more popular in Texas and Tennessee, than anywhere else.
“When I came to Texas they adopted me right away. People were giving me (honorary) citizen of Texas forms. I realized a whole culture of story telling that wasn't in Canada.”
Fred has received numerous music awards in many categories from traditional folk to bluegrass to rock. Earning praises from critics, and peers like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Miranda Lambert and Alan Jackson. Fred wrote the title song for Jackson’s latest record, Freight Train.
Fred Eaglesmith’s latest CD, Cha Cha Cha, can be heard and purchased at FredEaglesmith.com. He can also be seen at the Old Quarter Cafe in Galveston from time to time.
In an industry that finds it more and more difficult to bring great touring artists into small, intimate venues, many thanks to Wrecks at the OQ for hosting the talent.
Watch the video interview with Fred Eaglesmith. CLICK HERE.
A Zen Buddhist, a businessman, and a musician walk into a bar. Bartender says, “What can I get you, Fred?”
Fred Eaglesmith isn’t unusual in that he wears many hats, his uniqueness is in his well balanced approach to all things he engages in. Most famously, writing songs that continually reassure us someone understands how we feel.
Like an old mechanic fixing our cars time and time again, doing such a thorough job, even as we travel on with the inevitability of another breakdown, we feel confident that someone will be there to help us pick up the pieces. Someone who understands our frustrations, and helps us battle the futility of it all.
Fred’s songs are frequently cinematic landscapes, transporting listeners straight into the hearts of the sad and lonely, out to the dusty plains of rural America where trains roll through small towns, and trucks and relationships break down in perfect harmony. Norman Rockwell’s worst nightmare set to music.
And then there’s Fred the businessman, running his own label, a music store and a cafe most of his career. Around the time his first record was released in the early 80’s, he also ran a 6 million dollar a year wholesale flower company.
“I needed something to supplement my music career. I had 28 employees and a 15,000 sq. ft. building and I hated my life everyday. I lost it all in two days in the late 80’s. You really don’t know business until you’ve gone broke in one.”
It wasn’t the first time Fred Eaglesmith went broke. Growing up in Ontario, Canada, the family lost their farm and struggled economically. It was a volatile time for Fred, his songs, and bittersweet, comedic anecdotes between them during live shows, frequently allude to these times.
Early lessons in business and life may have influenced Fred’s record industry shrewdness. In an industry notorious for bad deals for musicians, Fred managed to do well in the 90’s with major labelpublishing and recording deals.
“Ultimately, when there’s a record deal somebody loses a lot of money. Either the artists or the label. Whoever loses the most money is mad at the other guy. So, (in the end) I wasn’t so mad... I wasn’t as angry as they were.”
Fred has earned a living for more than 30 years recording and touring the world over, mostly as a completely independent artist.
Despite escaping the corporate grip in 2001, Fred Eaglesmith admits to still being pissed off a lot of the time and has turned to Zen Buddhism for some inner peace.
“It’s very hard to not be angry, so that’s my struggle. To learn to quiet down. I’m a little better than when I was at 14, but no better since I was 24. I’m still pissed off, and I regret it everyday.”
Pissed off or not, Fred Eaglesmith delivers a healthy dose of well crafted Americana, singer-songwriter, songs that make many Texans very happy. Although he is Canadian, for much of his career Fred was more popular in Texas and Tennessee, than anywhere else.
“When I came to Texas they adopted me right away. People were giving me (honorary) citizen of Texas forms. I realized a whole culture of story telling that wasn't in Canada.”
Fred has received numerous music awards in many categories from traditional folk to bluegrass to rock. Earning praises from critics, and peers like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Miranda Lambert and Alan Jackson. Fred wrote the title song for Jackson’s latest record, Freight Train.
Fred Eaglesmith’s latest CD, Cha Cha Cha, can be heard and purchased at FredEaglesmith.com. He can also be seen at the Old Quarter Cafe in Galveston from time to time.
In an industry that finds it more and more difficult to bring great touring artists into small, intimate venues, many thanks to Wrecks at the OQ for hosting the talent.
Watch the video interview with Fred Eaglesmith. CLICK HERE.
A Zen Buddhist, a businessman, and a musician walk into a bar. Bartender says, “What can I get you, Fred?”
Fred Eaglesmith isn’t unusual in that he wears many hats, his uniqueness is in his well balanced approach to all things he engages in. Most famously, writing songs that continually reassure us someone understands how we feel.
Like an old mechanic fixing our cars time and time again, doing such a thorough job, even as we travel on with the inevitability of another breakdown, we feel confident that someone will be there to help us pick up the pieces. Someone who understands our frustrations, and helps us battle the futility of it all.
Fred’s songs are frequently cinematic landscapes, transporting listeners straight into the hearts of the sad and lonely, out to the dusty plains of rural America where trains roll through small towns, and trucks and relationships break down in perfect harmony. Norman Rockwell’s worst nightmare set to music.
And then there’s Fred the businessman, running his own label, a music store and a cafe most of his career. Around the time his first record was released in the early 80’s, he also ran a 6 million dollar a year wholesale flower company.
“I needed something to supplement my music career. I had 28 employees and a 15,000 sq. ft. building and I hated my life everyday. I lost it all in two days in the late 80’s. You really don’t know business until you’ve gone broke in one.”
It wasn’t the first time Fred Eaglesmith went broke. Growing up in Ontario, Canada, the family lost their farm and struggled economically. It was a volatile time for Fred, his songs, and bittersweet, comedic anecdotes between them during live shows, frequently allude to these times.
Early lessons in business and life may have influenced Fred’s record industry shrewdness. In an industry notorious for bad deals for musicians, Fred managed to do well in the 90’s with major labelpublishing and recording deals.
“Ultimately, when there’s a record deal somebody loses a lot of money. Either the artists or the label. Whoever loses the most money is mad at the other guy. So, (in the end) I wasn’t so mad... I wasn’t as angry as they were.”
Fred has earned a living for more than 30 years recording and touring the world over, mostly as a completely independent artist.
Despite escaping the corporate grip in 2001, Fred Eaglesmith admits to still being pissed off a lot of the time and has turned to Zen Buddhism for some inner peace.
“It’s very hard to not be angry, so that’s my struggle. To learn to quiet down. I’m a little better than when I was at 14, but no better since I was 24. I’m still pissed off, and I regret it everyday.”
Pissed off or not, Fred Eaglesmith delivers a healthy dose of well crafted Americana, singer-songwriter, songs that make many Texans very happy. Although he is Canadian, for much of his career Fred was more popular in Texas and Tennessee, than anywhere else.
“When I came to Texas they adopted me right away. People were giving me (honorary) citizen of Texas forms. I realized a whole culture of story telling that wasn't in Canada.”
Fred has received numerous music awards in many categories from traditional folk to bluegrass to rock. Earning praises from critics, and peers like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Miranda Lambert and Alan Jackson. Fred wrote the title song for Jackson’s latest record, Freight Train.
Fred Eaglesmith’s latest CD, Cha Cha Cha, can be heard and purchased at FredEaglesmith.com. He can also be seen at the Old Quarter Cafe in Galveston from time to time.
In an industry that finds it more and more difficult to bring great touring artists into small, intimate venues, many thanks to Wrecks at the OQ for hosting the talent.
Watch the video interview with Fred Eaglesmith. CLICK HERE.
