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.

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Show Schedule | Contest Rules | The Awards

Bryan Hayes – Greatest Generation (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the Contest after Week 1

Bryan is one of my buddies on the Memphis music scene, and I don’t think he’s ever written a song that doesn’t have a ton of power and spirit behind it. I picked this this one for December because spending time with grand parents and such is a big part of the holidays for a lot of people. When you’re doing that this month, think of this song and show a little love to the the old folks — of all generations, dang it.

Buzz Nuse – Christmas Time in Texas (Buy, Dang It)

I picked Buzz’s song about a one legged farmer last month, and it barely missed the finals. So I figured I’d try again with ole’ Buzz this month. Especially since he’s got a Christmas song on his Best of Buzz CD. If you like funny holiday songs and are sick of the grandma tragedy and the dang chipmunk singers, well, start getting to know Buzz’s dang little song. It’s a good ‘un to teach the kids. And, if you like HossTheBoss.com, here’s an especially good reason to vote for this song: since Buzz, in his non-Buzz life is the dang City Manager of Round Rock Texas (up there near Austin), and since HossTheBoss.com is the only station anywhere that’s playing his stuff, we can probably get some good free publicity in the Austin area if Buzz’s song makes the December finals and competes for Song of the Year. It’s not everyday that someone in an important, mature job like City Manager of a bustlin’ little burg does funny songs on the side. I want to be able to tell the Austin media that Buzz is winnin’ your love. They’ll eat it up, and maybe do a few nice articles or TV pieces about our little ole’ contest. Hoss loves free advertising! And the world would benefit from more people knowing about Buzz’s music, too.

David Martinez – What You Need (Buy, Dang It)

David’s another guy who I tried in this contest in November, but his song got kicked out early, dang it. I have faith that you people have finally come to your senses, though, and will toss a few more votes his way this time. This song is a bit of a preview of David’s awesome new CD that’s due out on December 31. This guy is an all-star from the HossTheBoss.com hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, and we’re real proud of him around here. Ya’ll just need to vote for him more, dang it!

Hilda Lamas – Damn Your Eyes (Buy, Dang It)

Hilda is another up-n-coming All Star from Corpus Christi. I say this woman has the most powerful voice in Texas, and her new album — set to come out in February — is proof that she knows how to mold all that power into some awesome sounds. This song is the first release from the new CD, and I am very excited and honored that Hilda gave it to us here at HossTheBoss.com before she gave it to any other station in the world (and she is getting attention across the globe).

Lawrence Fachner Band- Christmas in America (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the Contest after Week 1

Lawrence is a cool guy who works a full-time job every day as a security guard in New York City and then heads home every day to write songs. He’s probably written hundreds and, steadily, over the past few years, he’s been coming up with the money to hire some Nashville musicians to bring his creations to life. This is just one of those great songs. (So, in otherwords, don’t be confused. Lawrence ain’t the one singing here, but he IS the mastermind behind the tune.) Ya’ll really need to click the “buy” link above to download some of Lawrences other works, and encourage him to keep it up.

Nancy Apple – The Outlaw (Buy, Dang It)

In Memphis, the local newspapers call this lady the “Queen of Country” and “The Princess of Twang.” I just call her cool. Independent country can’t get any better in America. It’s about time she did a new dang CD, and I was happy to hear her tell me recently that she’s got one “coming soon.” In the meantime, this is song is off her last CD “Shoulda Lied About That.” Yeah, she did it in 2003, but the songs, and Nancy’s good ole’ country, never get stale. I picked this song for the contest hoping that, maybe, some of the people who are coming to HossTheBoss.com because of all Draystin’s metal will appreciate the lyrics.

Phil Prichett – Find My Own Way (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the Contest after Week 1

Phil Prichett from Ft. Worth, Texas has made a pretty big name for himself in the music biz without once selling out to a big label or any other demonic monetary force. This song is from his hot-of-the-presses CD — the title track called “The Bullfighter Returns” has potential to be a Texas classic — and I picked it because it celebrates the spirit of independence that, ironically, is the thing that many HossTheBoss.com listeners share. Count me as a big time Phan.

South Texas Destroyers – Apple Pie Blues (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the Contest after Week 1

These guys from San Antonio can do a little of everything, and they can do it all very well. Singer James Pardo took up Country after making the rounds on the Tejano scene for a few years, but the band’s self-titled CD has such a mix of styles that it’s really hard to classify these guys. That’s great, actually, because classifications tend to ruin music. This song may be the least classifiable on the whole CD. That’s why I like it best.

The Kat Moore Band – Thank You (Buy, Dang It)

Kat Moore from Lewisville, Texas (near Dallas) sent me a few previews of her new CD that’s due out in March, and I just had to include this one in the contest. It ain’t an official “Christmas” song, but it’s certainly got the Christmas spirit in it. We all need to do more thanks sayin’ to the people we love, dang it.

Woodie Ray Lawson – Christmas Blues (Buy, Dang It)
Dropped from the Contest after Week 1

Woodie Ray Lawson has been livin’ in Port Aransas, Texas playing bass with a group of guys known as Triggerfish for many years. That band has a nice local following, but a lot of their fans may not know that Woodie has a LOT of other music stuff to his credit. He spent some time with The Doak Sneed Band (whose leader is now a Hossey Music Award finalist after last month’s contest) in Austin, and counts several Texas all-stars like Gurf Morlix among his friends. And, yeah, a few years back,  he even recorded some really cool stuff of his own. This song off his self-titled CD is very timely this month, huh.

See My Previous Picks
November 2008