Hoss’s April 2009 Hossey Award Picks
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 a few is always the hardest part of my month. Oh well. Such is life.
Austin Cunningham – The Last Great DJ (Buy, Dang It)
Austin Cunningham has been writing for years for some of Nashville’s top singers (Martina McBride, Hank Williams Jr. Dolly Parton, Wynona, etc), but he’s not quite a household name in his own right yet — emphasis on yet. This song is off “Made to Last” his latest of 4 CDs that he’s done since 1999, and I think it’s pretty obvious why I picked it. But, maybe an even better song from Austin is a timely one that he’s pushing as a single to radio station (but isn’t on a CD yet). It’s called “Who’s Gonna Bail Out The Working Man?” Listening to Made to Last, I got kind of excited that someone can do such down-home, honest, even a little rebelious songs, and still be able to make a living on Music Row. Maybe Nashville isn’t completely hopeless afterall. I really wish Austin luck with his new CD and his new song!
Billy Jones – Mary My Mother-in-Law (Buy, Dang It)
Billy Jones is a blues guy from North Little Rock, Arkansas who is, as he says on MySpace, out to “change the world… one listener at a time.” The guy’s stuff is tight and solid, definitely! I picked this song because I happened to notice that it’s one he didn’t put on his dang MySpace page. (And you know me, I’m always looking to give people something they can’t get anywhere else.)Â I’m not sure that it’s a good representation of everything Billy’s done, but I thought it was a pretty funny little song — perfect topic for a blues tune, that’s for sure.
Finger Pistol – Cheaper Side of Town (Buy, Dang It)
These guys out of the Austin area came to my attention via my fellow DJ this month, Tony Kinsel. He picked one of their songs in the January contest, and it did very well. Singer Dan Hardwick also appeared on the show several times, and I thought he was a pretty entertaining guy. So, I started checking out their stuff more closely, and I now count both of the two CDs I’ve heard from them so far — “Wet, Sloppy World” and “Young and Beautiful” — as among my all-time favorites! I picked this song, which is off “Wet Sloppy World” because I’ve had the very same sentiments about the ridiculous hysteria about the “amazing sunsets” at the “famous” Oasis Bar and Grill just outside of Austin in the Texas Hill Country. In fact, I think almost all of the development within 30 miles of The Oasis has only ruined the sunsets (and other natural beauty) in the area. God bless Finger Pistol for putting my thoughts exactly to music! Check these guys out for much more rebeliously inspirational much!
Hard Logic – Attack of the Weiner Dogs (Buy, Dang It)
I love jazz! I just don’t get enough of it sent to me unsolicited. After getting this new CD from these up-state New York guys, though, I intend to make it a point to bring more jazz to the station in coming weeks, definitely! I picked this song because it has the most interesting name. Other than the brief appearances of someone’s dogs in the song, I’m not sure that it brings to my mind any images of Weiner Dogs, but, hey, that’s jazz. To each his own! These guys are awesome!
Hilda Lamas – Green Eyes (Buy, Dang It)
Hilda Lamas is one of the All Stars on our Corpus Christi music scene, and this song is off her much-anticipated debute CD “Latina Soul.” This woman has some amazing pipes, very exciting to hear. The CD is filled with cover songs, which usually do not do anything for me. But, with Hilda, it’s different. I say she’s actually created an improvement on on songs like “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “To Love Somebody”, and even “Piece of My Heart” (she definitely does a better job on that one than Faith Hill did back in the 90s’ Wow! What was that all about?). Anyway… this song is one of the CDs original songs, and I say she nailed it.
Hobo – Love of Your Life (Buy, Dang It)
Hobo is another Corpus Christi band that is developing a solid little reputation around town. The guys haven’t made it formally into a studio yet, but I was happy when they finally recorded one of their live shows (at Dr. Rockitt’s Blues Bar) and sent me a cut. Yeah, the recording isn’t exactly what you’d get from a professional studio, but, then, ain’t roughin’ it what Texas Music is all about? I hope you’ll support these guys in this little ole’ contest, and give them the motivation they need to get bigger and better.
Jay Hollis – One More Day (Buy, Dang It)
Jay Hollis is from Henrietta, Texas (near Witchita Falls), and I think he’s the only country singer I know who is a real-life professional bull rider, too. (He went to college on a bull riding scholarship. Who knew that a guy could do such a thing?) That would give me reason to like this guy even if his CD wasn’t produced by the great Chris Boohr, formerly of Asleep at the Wheel. This dude is just plain cool.
Jayc Harold – Hard Times (Buy, Dang It)
Jayc lives in the Nashville area, and I really like him because he’s not afraid to be blatantly Christian in a “Nashville” sounding country song. I think the corporate influence on today’s music makes a lot of “up-n-comers” a little shy about doing stuff like that. This guy doesn’t fall into that trap, and he’s entertaining to boot!
Jimmy Baldwin – Adam (the Last Soldier)Â (Buy, Dang It)
Jimmy’s MySpace page says that the Dallas Morning News (his home town paper) has called his Cowboy and a Mermaid CD “stunning,” and I agree. If you like songs that tell poetic stories (and I do), then you really need to track this guy down. The CD is a collection of powerful, intriguing and even strange tales, and choosing just one for this contest was difficult. I picked “Adam,” however, because it seems to be the most timely (but on that note, I’d say all of the songs — even this one — are wonderfully timeless). It’s comes to mind now every time someone on CNN talks about the war in Iraq which, it seems, will be ending soon but, for which people continue to die.
KC Beck – That’s Just Me (Buy, Dang It)
KC is currently working in Iraq, but from the looks of his MySpace page and website, his heart is back here in the U.S. playing music. While on a short RR from Iraq, he went to Nashville and recorded this song, plus a few others, and, as soon as he’s home for good, he says he intends to polish them all up, release a full CD and start making some moves on the Texas music scene. I think this idea is worthy of lots of support!
The Lawrence Fachner Band – Media Blues (Buy, Dang It)
Lawrence’s band is a regular on HossTheBoss.com, and I occassionally get inquiries from people wanting to see these guys live. Unfortunately, “they” don’t play live gigs, because, well, they’re not a real band in the traditional sense. Lawrence is a security guard who lives in Brooklyn and writes poetry in his spare time. A few years back, his friends said he needed to put his poems to music, and so that’s what he did. He regularly sends his creations to a Nashville where a group of studio musicians bring them to life, and then he always sends the finished product to me. (HossTheBoss.com is just about the only place you’re going to hear Lawrence’s stuff, unfortunately.) Besides having some great ideas for songs, Lawrence is just a great American, always lookin’ out for his fellow man. His songs run the gamut from sentimental to patriotic to, occassionally, rebellious. This one is probably the most rebellious of the one’s I’ve heard from him, and it’s definitely a Hoss kinda song! You go Lawrence! I’ve had the Media Blues for a long, long time! Thanks for helping me cure it, just a little.
Luna – Honey (Buy, Dang It)
Listening to this song, you may find it hard to believe that Luna’s website says that she’s a Kentucky girl “steeped in the Appalacian tradition.” Her new CD Blaine Girl does show some signs of that (though I hear much more of the “Texas” tradition in it), but I chose this song because it’s the one that rocks the most. I really, really dig this woman’s stuff. If you’re anywhere around where she’s playing live, stop in and say hi. You’ll be making me a little jealous — but that’s okay. I’m just a LunaTic! Hahahahahahahahahaha! (I’m sure she’s never heard that one before.)
Randy Dukes – My Company (Buy, Dang It)
My only issue with this guy is that he’s from St. Augustine Florida! What the heck is he doing there? He says on his website that he follows the traditions set by people like Robert Earle Keen and Steve Earl. I can definitely hear that in what I’ve heard from him so far. So, we need to get him to Texas! Or if that isn’t going to happen, I at least hope them Florida folks appreciate this guy.
Richie Allbright – You Ain’t No Hank (Buy, Dang It)
No, this isn’t the guy who spent nearly 30 years as the drummer for Waylon (his name has one 1, and the other Richie has 2), but he did spend a heck of a long time in Nashville and so has a lot in common with that guy. After 14 years of putting up with BS on Music Row, Richie has recently moved back to Mathis, Texas (not too far from Corpus Christi), and this is his first independent release in Texas. The lyrics are especially Hoss like! Pretty boys suck!
Roger Cowan – Leave Me Alone (Buy, Dang It)
Roger Cowan is from Beckville, Texas, and lest any of his friends and neighbors up there start to worryin’ after hearing this song, it’s important to see what he says on MySpace: “About me: Happily married with a son and two stepdaughters. I have the most gorgeous wife who puts up with all my crap.” His next line also caught my eye: “Ya ever notice how some people talk shit behind your back til they need somethin.” Yeah, I noticed, Roger. People are just assholes.
Stephen Wesley – Feels Good To Me (Buy, Dang It)
Stephen Wesley lives in Las Vegas and he’s probably the first “American Idol” contestant we’ve ever played on HossTheBoss.com. (Not sure when he was on the show, but his website says he had a “short lived” stint.) Don’t hold that against him, though, dang it! I really admire this guy’s independent spirit. In checking out his website, it’s clear that he’s doing a great job of building a promising music career without selling out. That’s a tough thing to do, so people who attempt it need all the help we can give them. Make sure you read his bio on his site. It’s a heck of a story!
Spud Davenport – The Out-of-Towners (Buy, Dang It)
This guy from San Diego California was born to be a dang musician. Don’t believe me, check out his bio on his website. At first glance, I thought the CD “Green” that he sent me was going to be mostly funny and quirky. It’s actually more serious and intelligent — in a funny, quirky kind of way. This is one of the songs, Spud says he wants to promote from the CD, and I guess it’s a good representation of what he’s done. But, really, you should check out the whole thing. There’s some very memorable, interesting stuff on there. We need to help ole’ Spud out. A guy who can produce a CD like this doesn’t need to be working a dang day job!
The Fossils – That Ole’ Red White and Blue (Buy, Dang It)
This is a new band out of the Houston area led by my buddy Colorado Dave Quintana. These guys are still getting their ducks in a row as a group, but a CD is coming soon, Dave says! I can’t wait. In the meantime, anyone touched by the patriotism behind this song (and who wouldn’t be) should consider buying it. The band is donating proceeds to a group of U.S. soldiers in North Iraq, to send them the kinds of things we take for granted back here at home (from baby wipes to beef jerky) but which mean a hell of a lot to those guys who are doing our dirty work. For more information on this program that The Fossils are involved in, check out their MySpace page.
The Kat Moore Band – Big Texas Sky (Buy, Dang It)
Kat Moore from Lewisville, Texas (near Dallas) has had a lot of success on this little show in the past few months (I even chose her to be a guest DJ in January, and we’re now planning to start her own show on the station in the coming months), so I figured — since her debut CD made it out on March, we need to let her back in again this month. Choosing which song to pick from her very solidly produced collection was tough, but I finally decided on the title track because I guess I was in a sentimental mood at the time. I couldn’t have gone wrong with any of her songs, though. This Kool Kat is well deserving of your support! Say hi to her on the web!
Tornado Magnet – Rednecks (Buy, Dang It)
I put this group of Americana All Stars from California in the contest back in January, and ya’ll didn’t for them too much. I’m assuming that’s just because ya’ll were just temporarily out of your minds. (Maybe the problem is that you guys were just too confused by a band from California being named “Tornado Magnet.” I admit, it is a little weird.) This song is dang funny. Don’t make another dang mistake!
See My Previous Picks