These are all the songs I’ve chosen for this month’s contest. I know thousands of independent musicians who are deserving of having their songs in this dang deal. So narrowing my picks down to just 10 is always the hardest part of my month. Oh well. Such is life.

Vote Now!

Show Schedule | Contest Rules | The Awards

Buzz Nuse – One Legged Farmer (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the Contest after Week 4

Buzz Nuse is pretty dang funny with a lot of his songs, and this is one of his funnier ones. But what’s probably the funniest part of this whole deal is that, on his day job, Buzz is the mild mannered “Jim Nuse,” City Manager of Round Rock, Texas (just north of Austin and one of the largest cities in the state). Imagine a guy with a job like that doing a song like this. Only in Texas. And only, probably, only in Round Rock. Oh yeah, the main reason I chose this song off Buzz’s “Best Of” CD is that November is Thanksgiving month, and I couldn’t think of any songs that have turkeys in them. So a 3-legged ostrich will have to do for Thangsgiving Hoss style. Yum, yum.

David Martinez  – Walkin’ On Air (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

David is a middle school math teacher who has hellacious musical talent but isn’t worried about selling his soul to spring board a career. If he were looking, I’m confident he could find a big label that would sign him. But he’s not interested in that. No, good ole’ David Martinez is content to just hang out playing open mic nights right here in Corpus Christi, supporting the local music scene, and traveling the country with his music during the summers. I’m proud of him for that! This song is off the new CD that he’ll be releasing sometime soon. (Don’t rush him, dang it.) Dave does a lot of songs about the emotional turmoil of relationships. (I’m sure his students can relate to that topic like none other.) I like this one because it’s a happy kind of turmoil.

Doak Sneed -Looking Glass (Buy, Dang It)

This guy is a West Texas native who has been toying around doing intelligent music just under the radar of the American mainstream for about 40 years. From San Angelo to Nashville, Doak has earned the respect and friendship of independent musicians across America — including a couple of my friends in Corpus Christi who told me I needed to get Doak’s stuff on the station or else. I say this song is the most interesting piece in the contest this month. Something to get lost in. Just make sure you vote for it before you leave.

Jack Remington – Battered Old Guitar (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 2

Jack is an independent singer/song writer who lives in Nashville and is proof that good ole’ country music is not quite dead yet. Jack and his partner Dollie McFarland have written songs covering every facet of life, but this one off their new CD named “Chameleon” is of utmost importance. It’s all about the traditions of music that every generation simply owes it to the previous to carry on. It makes me wonder if my generation is living up to its responsibility the way Jack has. This is an important song.

Pear Ratz – Killin’ U2 (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 2

The Pear Ratz are from George West, Texas (smack between Corpus and San Antonio) and they’ve become a decent sized name on the Texas music scene since about 2005. I’m proud to say I knew these guys since just about the very beginning (they included me in the dang credits on their first CD. That’s the first time that’s ever happened in all my years on the music biz.) This song is the sequel to a song called “Talkin’ Myself Out of Killing You” that was on that first CD. The guy in the song is getting just a little closer to shooting the woman this time, but it’s interesting to note that he still hasn’t quite pulled the trigger yet. Will he do it on the band’s 3rd CD? Can’t wait to find out. (My guess is that she’ll end up taking him back and they’ll have three kids, and Child Protective Services will be regulars at their house. That’s the way these things usually end up.) I’m really glad that the ‘Ratz have apparently decided to pick this song as one of their “releases” from their second CD. I told singer Bob Strausse that I thought they should have released the first song, but he said he was worried that people would think he was a psychotic killer, not the kind of first impression you want to make when your just getting a band going — even in the semi- psychotic Texas branch of the biz. His releasing the sequal tells me that Bob is comfortable with the band’s status in the business these days. And that’s a great thing. If ya’ll aren’t already on board with the Pear Ratz, get there quick. These guys are worthy of the buzz. And, by the way, this song ain’t a bit autobiographical. Bob’s a completely sane guy who’s been married for at least 20 years and, as far as I know, has never really wanted to kill anyone. It’s just a dang song, people!

Rafael-alexandre Ramos – Malcom Y (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

This independent musician from Canada spends a lot of time setting news clips to a beat and creating tunes that have a left-wing bent. I’m writing this about 3 weeks before the American election, so I have no idea whether Barak Obama will be our President-Elect by the time most of you are reading this. But, even if he isn’t, I think the song is still timely and poignant, no matter what your political leanings are. (Not going to tell you mine, by the way. If you think you’ve got them figured out, why not shoot an email to tell me what they are. I’ll let you know privately if you’re right.)

Rene West – Closeout Sale (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

Rene teaches art at an Amarillo community college for her day job. By night, she writes a lot of tough, honest songs about living in the middle class. This song is one of those, and I think it rocks! Very timely, unfortunately.

Rip Tide – Stuck on E (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

These guys are a Corpus Christi favorite known for the daring, and exhaustingly energtic,  takes on a lot of Rockabilly covers. I’ve never seen anyone show up at one of their gigs and not leave saying, “Wow. Those guys were awesome!” Fortunately, the guys have found time over the years (between playing a ton of gigs, working a ton of day job hours, and playing with a local church band) to come up with one or two originals. This is one of them. They recorded it in 2002, but it becomes more and more relevant every day. Ya’ll sing along on your way to put another $20 in the pump.

Triggerfish – Tropical Illusions (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 1

This three man group from Port Aransas, Texas has played for Parrot Heads from across the world over the years (thanks to Port A being a popular tourist spot). Fortunately, they also do a little more than just cover Buffett songs. They have a lot of creative originals under their belt, and these songs all keep the Buffett tradition very healthy. This song is one of those. It’s the title track off the band’s second CD.

Ty Dietz – Emory (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the contest after Week 2

Ty Dietz knows how to write songs! Wow. If you’re not dead or something, this one will have you captivated. It’s great to know that this guy is just getting started on the Texas music scene. In fact, this is one of the only recordings you’ll be able to hear from him to date. We taped this live during an Open Mic Night at the Executive Surf Club in Corpus Christi where Ty was a regular before AWESOME paying gigs started coming his way very regularly. Ty is making all the right connections and doing all the right things to become the next big thing on the Texas music scene. Please remember where you heard him first, dang it. I take a lot of pride in introducing you to amazing talent like Ty Dietz!