Tommy's Family Gathering #3

My first trip to Smoothwater Ranch in Hico, Texas, is one I shall not soon forget. Not just because of the gooey mess the grassland in front of the stage became after a good and much needed soaking rain that started Thursday, the day the festival started, of course, and continued most of the festival. It was also my first (but not the last, I assure you) experience of Tommy Alverson's Family Gathering...this was #3.

My friend, Liz, and I arrived just in time for the first act on Friday afternoon, Cooder Graw, that southern "Loud Country" band from the Panhandle. They entertained us in fine fashion, as usual. These guys have been hitting the road pretty hard since they went full-time musicians/entertainers- and can they entertain! They did a great set complete with "Solitary Boogie", a great upbeat song in which Matt Martindale adds extra flavor by playing a metal washboard with metal ice cream scoops. These guys always have smiles on their faces and that, coupled with the music they make, you just can't help but smile back.

Houston Marchman came on stage next, and it was my first chance to see him. Man! I was really impressed with him. I've got one of his CDs so I'm familiar with his music, but you know how much better it is live? Well, it was. I can't wait to go see him in his own element sometime SOON.

Fort Worth's Bodie Powell was up next, and I enjoyed seeing Bodie perform again. It's been a while since I've seen him- probably the South Fork show. But I first saw Bodie Powell at the Red Onion one night a couple of years ago and danced the night away to his good country music. Bodie has that true country, err...honky tonk sound that restores my soul and get my feet to moving.

Geronimo Trevino played after Bodie, and this was another first for me. He plays good music, and I'd like to hear more. I was distracted during his show somewhat by trudging through the mud to visit the facilities and visiting friends I would discover along the way. Just the trudging through the mud takes awhile, as this is about the slickest red clay I'd ever put my boots in. Amazingly, though, I don't think I ever saw one person actually fall in it, but I know there had to be a few!

Sisters Morales were next. They had a full rock 'n roll band with them, and this was a side of the Sisters I hadn't seen before. And they were good, but I prefer to hear just the two of them acoustically. I thought the highlights of their show were the two songs they did in Spanish. They're a talented pair who are really sisters, originally from Tucson, but now residing in Texas. They harmonize so well together and both have such beautiful voices. I thought all that noise kind of camouflaged the true beauty of their voices, in my humble opinion, but it was one of Liz's favorite acts of the festival. The crowd got into the rockin' music, maybe trying to defy the weather and enjoy the fact that we were hearing some of the best in Texas music.

Speaking of the best, one of Texas' best, Davin James, took the stage after the Sisters. And he took the crowd as well. Davin played his usual "heart & soul" show playing a few of his well-loved hits, like "Seat of My Pants", "Magnolia", "Guadalupe Days", "I'll Always Be Here" and that awesome blues tune "Red House". It's going to be on his next album that he's starting THIS MONDAY, that's all that matters! And I can't wait to hear this CD. Davin got the first call-back from the crowd (at least while I was there) and did "Nowhere Lounge", the title track of his second album and one of my personal favorites. And by this time, the rain was REALLY coming down and nobody cared. The crowd was into the party and by this time, the rain had become part of it.

Rusty Wier appeared on stage next instead of the slated Larry Joe Taylor. Rusty is so relaxed on stage and really talks to the crowd...maybe a little too much. But Rusty is fun to watch and hear, and it was all good. He ended his set with the song he usually ends with "Don't It Make You Wanna' Dance"...and it does- even in the mud. They came, they got wet, they danced. Hell, people were holding their beer and an umbrella while dancing...only in Texas.

I heard Larry Joe put on a good show, too, but this gal headed for the bed about that time. I had an early wake-up that morning, and Liz was ready to call it a night, too. Sorry, Larry Joe, next time we'll stay and limbo with you, but I didn't hear about a mud slinging limbo at Hico so maybe they didn't do that one (but I bet he did!)

Saturday morning we had the pleasure of an impromptu lunch with Joe and Ann Parsons, friends from the southern part of state, the metropolis called Houston. It is always fun to talk to these two, they are so full of interesting information about the goings-on in Texas music. Then it was off to the festival as it was getting late. In fact, we missed the first act, Craig Chambers, who I've never seen before. My loss, I'm sure.

Max Stalling was on stage when we arrived. This time we decided not to drive down into the camping area since we damned near didn't get out the night before. We parked up on the hill on firmer ground and caught one of the golf carts that were graciously shuttling people and their stuff down to the stage area. We set up and braced for the rain that was still to come. But once again, when I started watching Max, it didn't matter too much, the music was too good to leave and we were already there. Max did a great set with several of his more popular tunes like "Wide Afternoon", "Running Buddy", "Comfort in the Curves", and "Blue Eyes". Max Stalling gets better every time I see him, or maybe I just learn to appreciate him more each time. Either way, Max Stalling is one of the best Texas has to offer.

Because of a scheduling problem, an impromptu band was put together to entertain the drenched fans that were determined to have a good time and enjoy what they came for. This band was full of great talent like Heather, Thurston and Jerry from Ed Burleson's band, a player from the Red Dirt Rangers, Bodie Powell, Tommy Alverson, Diamond Jim Richmond and others. You know they're talented when a group of musicians can get together and sing a few songs and make it sound like they play together all the time. But it's the type of thing that make these festivals so great - an impromptu jam session that just rocks with talent.

I finally got to see Macon Greyson, and I wasn't disappointed. They were better than their CD (of course), but the CD is damn good. That live action just can't be replaced, especially with someone with the stage presence that Buddy Huffman has. I was really impressed with this young man.

There was a rumor going around that Brian Burns was flying in, but they couldn't land the helicopter. I was disappointed thinking he wouldn't be there to perform. But he was, and he did. Brian Burns can write, he can sing, and he can perform. He is also a very nice guy. I went backstage specifically to meet and talk with him, and he was very gracious. I love Brian's honky tonk* the best, but all of his music is a cut above the rest. The crowd was somewhat disappointed that he didn't play longer than he did. His set seemed shorter than most.

South by Southwest followed Brian, and this was my first time to hear this band, too. They don't have a drummer, but they really don't need one. They had a keyboard/mandolin player, a fiddler/steel guitar player and a couple of other guitars, plus the lead singer, Mike Hearne. He said he is Bill and Bonnie Hearn's nephew, which I didn't know. They played some great tunes and have obviously spent some time in front of a crowd. I'd like to hear more from this group.

Ed Burleson and his entourage took the stage next, and they had an extra in the band on the steel guitar. I didn't catch his name, but he was good. Ed was having a good time which usually means he puts on a great show. Ed mixed it up with his popular tunes like "I'm Sorry for Nothing But You", "Bull Ridin' SOB", "The Pretty Girl Riding the Bay", as well as cover tunes like Waylon's, "Only Daddy Who Will Walk the Line". This was only the second act that I saw where the crowd called for an encore. He even played the song I shouted as a request, "Big Maumo", a cajun tune that got the crowd dancing again. Clay Blaker made a surprise appearance during Ed's show and he and Tommy Alverson came out on stage and sang "Going Home to Texas" with Ed. It was a real treat for Ed and for the crowd even if you could tell it was ad-libbed. Ed also played a song that Doug Sahm recorded before he died, an album that I think Ed said is going to be released soon. I'll be watching for that.

By this time, I had "almost too much fun" (because there's no such thing as too much fun). Lady Liz and I decided to pack up our muddy mess and go home. By the time we got ready to go slip-sliding through the muck again, Joe Pat Hennen and band were on stage wowing the crowd. That made me have second thoughts about leaving, but the thought of crossing that mud again in the dark while carrying chairs, umbrellas and a cooler and driving three hours home after midnight kept me moving towards the exit.

These festivals are always memorable. They are just special in that the people come together to enjoy the music they all love to hear. You see old friends, and you make new ones. This one will be especially memorable, because in spite of the lousy weather, the people enjoyed the music and each other. They shared what they had and helped each other out. There was a sense of togetherness that is hard to describe in words.

The highlights of this festival besides the best music in the world were; the 2-year-old boy dressed in a festival cowboy hat, jeans, boots, shirt and a yellow slicker dancing by the stage, the guy that rolled his truck and showed up at the festival 3 hours later still in his hospital gown and his head completely bandaged to see Bodie Powell. It was the golden retriever I befriended named Jimbo, it was watching everyone trying to cross the mud pit without falling and trying to get their cars, trucks, golf carts and four wheelers out of the mud. It was watching Jay Johnson (who should have been up on stage) sing along to every song played on Saturday and all the while dancing and smiling and enjoying the music. There was just a lot of fun stuff going on - some as a direct result of the rain. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Written by Lana Hughes, November, 2000

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*Since this review was written, Brian Burns has written some excellent songs about Texas and it's history in fighting for its independence. His CD, The Eagle & The Snake: Songs of the Texian, feature these songs. They are now my favorites of Brian's music, but his honky tonk runs a close second.