HossTheBoss.com » Tony Kinsel’s May 2010 Hossey Award Picks

I’m Tony, and these are my May, 2010 picks…

Cattywompus–Elizabeth Rose

Cattywompus is from Austin, Texas, playing Americana & Roots Music. They’re a 5 man band consisting of Jonathan Lennartz on vocals, Aaron Bateman on guitar, John Webber on drums, James Webber on bass & vocals, & Kevin Webber on percussion. Recent transplants from California, Cattywompus decided to move to Austin after an extensive U.S. tour in 2006, saying they’d fallen in love with the people and the music in Texas. Whether it be Rock, Blues, Country or Folk Music, no specific genre accurately pinpoints Cattywompus, but they blend them together to form a unique sound all their own. They have 1 cd out called “Gospel Hymns & Original Sins” from which I’ve chosen the song “Elizabeth Rose” as their contest entry this month. For more info on Cattywompus, visit their MySpace page, www.myspace/cattywompus, or their website, http://www.cattymusic.com…

Chris Walker–Riverside

Chris Walker is from London, England, playing Classic Rock, Rock & Blues Music. After a classical education on the violin and viola as a child, Chris decided to start playing guitar at the start of the 80’s. Largely self-taught, he learned to play by listening to and emulating “the licks and lines” of groups like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Cream, Hendrix, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Stevie Ray Vaughn. His career since has spanned thousands of gigs on 3 continents. Recently, he’s been playing live with a group called Skinny Molly, which is led by an ex-Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist. Chris released his first cd in 2008, called “The Pine Cone Incident”, from which he chose his acoustic song “Riverside” as his contest entry this month, and he’ll be particpating in an informal “acoustic guitar-off” with one of Hoss’s picks this month. For more info on Chris Walker, visit his MySpace page, www.myspace.com/chriswalkerguitars…

Cody Gill Band–Roadsigns

Cody Gill Band is from Stephenville, Texas, playing Southern Rock & Texas Country Music. They’re a 4 man band, consisting of Cody Gill on vocals & rhythm guitar, Zack Hooper on lead guitar & backing vocals, Cooder Wade on bass guitar, & Jarrod Baker on drums and “almost enough cowbell”. The Cody Gill Band’s debut performance in March of 2004 took place in a bar that was probably smaller than most people’s garages. Since that day, as they say on MySpace, “many beers have been sold, many songs have been written, and a loyal fan base spanning the state, the country and beyond, has been assembled”. In 2007, the band released it’s debut cd “Boxcars”, and in 2009 released their second cd “King Of Your Hometown”, from which I’ve chosen the song “Roadsigns” as their contest entry this month. This is also the new single that they’re pushing on Texas radio stations, at the moment. For more info on The Cody Gill Band, visit their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/codygillband, or their website, www.codygillbandmusic.com. (If you’re in Willow Park, Texas on May 8th you can see The Cody Gill Band doing a gig at The Railhead Smokehouse, starting at 8pm, and they’ll be performing at the Brandi Todd Benefit Concert & Auction at Billy Bob’s Texas in Ft. Worth, on May 9th, starting at 5pm, along with Randy Rogers, Chris O’Toole, Charlie Robison, Zona Jones, Stoney LaRue, and others. Sounds like a good way to celebrate Mother’s Day!)….

Cody Johnson Band–Texas Kind Of Way

Cody Johnson Band is from Huntsville, Texas, playing Texas Country, 2-Step & Acoustic Music. They’re a 6 man band, consisting of Cody Johnson on lead vocals & rhythm guitar, Nathan Reedy on drums, Danny Salinas on bass guitar, Matt Rogers on lead guitar & harmony vocals, Jeff Smith on lead guitar & harmony vocals & Chris Whitten on fiddle. Cody Johnson’s first cd was called “Black & White Label” and was released in 2006. In 2007, the band released their 1st live cd “Live & Rocking At Shenanigans”, and, in 2009, released their 1st professionally produced cd “Six Strings & One Dream”. What’s important to note is that the band financially backed the production of this album with only their personal money, through their savings accounts, personal loans, gig money & part-time jobs. I’ve chosen another song I think should be in the running for state song of Texas, “Texas Kind Of Way”, off that cd, as their contest entry this month. For more info on The Cody Johnson Band, visit their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/codyjohnsonband, or their website, www.thecodyjohnsonband.com. ( If you’re in Livingston, Texas on May 15th, you can catch The Cody Johnson Band doing a gig at Buster McNutty’s, starting at 8pm)….

Hogjaw–Two Guns

Hogjaw is from Phoenix, Arizona, playing Rock, Southern Rock & Americana Music, or, as they say on MySpace “Shootin’, Rockin’, Muddin’ & Drinkin’ Music!” They’re a 4 man band, consisting of JonBoat Jones on vocals & guitar, Craig Self on lead guitar, J. “Kwall” Kowalski on drums & Elvis DD on bass. Hogjaw was formed by 4 high school friends in 2006 “through the power of jamming”. In 2008, they released “Devil In The Details”, their first cd, which was listed as a top seller on CDBaby for 2008 & 2009. On May 8th, they’re releasing their 2nd cd, “Ironwood”, which their manager has already sent me 5 songs from as an exclusive HossTheBoss.com preview. On my DJ show Sunday night, May 9th, starting at 7pm, I’ll be playing Hogjaw’s “Devil In The Details” cd, followed by the 5 songs from “Ironwood”. I’ve chosen the song “Two Guns” off “Ironwood” as their contest entry this month. It’s what I’d call a “Rock & Roll Western” song about a shoot-out in a copper-mining town in the Old West. Listen closely to the lyrics. After “Ironwood” is released, Hogjaw plans to kick off a nation-wide tour in support of it. I’ll be featuring all 15 songs I have from Hogjaw on my DJ show on HTB, Sunday night, May 9th. For more info on Hogjaw, visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/hogjawmusic, or their website, http://www.hogjawmusic.com. (If you’re in Phoneix, Arizona on May 8th, you can attend Hogjaw’s “Ironwood” cd release party at The Blooze Bar, starting at 7:30pm.)….

Leannasaurus Rex–Whipping Post

Leannasaurus Rex is from College Station, Texas, playing Blues, Rock & Texas Country Music. They’re a 5 person group, consisting of Leanne Swenson on vocals, Brian Lippman on bass, Mike Fridell on drums, Greg Phelps on guitar & Karl Rehn on keyboards. On Myspace, it says “Leanne Swenson is honored to front Leannasaurus Rex, bridging the divide between Texas Blues and Country Soul”. Leanne sent me their “Live” cd last year, so I could choose a song from them for September’s Hossey Music Awards Song-Voting Contest, and I chose “You Can have My Husband (But Please Don’t Mess With My Man)”, a funny blues song that made it into the top 5 that month. This month, I’ve chosen their cover of The Allman Brothers famous song “Whippin’ Post” as their contest entry. (This has to be the best version of the song that I’ve ever heard, I actually like it better than the original!) For more info on Leannasaurus Rex, you can visit their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/leannasaurusrex. (If you’re in College Station, Texas on May 8th, you can see them live at the Hullabaloo Bar, starting at 8:30pm!)….

Lyrical Bynge–Rock Like There’s No Tomorrow

Lyrical Bynge is from Corpus Christi, Texas, playing Southern Rock, Rock & Classic Rock Music. They’re a 4 person group consisting of Edna de la Garza (who calls herself Electric DNA) on lead vocals, guitar & keyboards, Miguel Davila on bass and vocals, Donald Aguirre on lead guitar and vocals, and Maraca 15 on drums. After running across this group on MySpace, I sent them a friend request and asked for permission to play their music on HTB. Edna accepted, and sent me 2 of their songs, both written by her, so I could choose one for this month’s contest. I liked both songs, so it was kind of hard to make a choice, but I went with “Rock Like There’s No Tomorrow” , which she tells me was recorded at Gilley’s in Houston. For more info on Lyrical Bynge, visit their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/lyricalbyngeband, or their website, www.musictx.com/lyricalbynge. (If you’re in Corpus Christi, Texas, May 8th, you can see Lyrical Bynge performing at The Executive Surf Club, starting at 8pm!)…

Maidens IV–Rocks Of Bawn

Maidens IV are from Loudonville, Ohio, playing Celtic, Roots & Folk Rock Music. They’re a 4 sister group, consisting of Havilah, Heather, Abigail & Tabitha Justice. Their sound has been described as “pure-action, pulse-peddling Celtic Fusion, that spans the borders of today and tradition, stringing each percussive and alluring tone of the bodhran, guitar, violin, viola and voice into a Celtic-infused Folk Rock celebration!” The 4 sisters dance, play, sing and compose their own fiery music, then add shimmering costumes, powerful 4-part harmony, insane instrumentals, and daring choreography to create a stage show that is unforgettable. I chose their song “Rocks Of Bawn”, off their cd “Emerald Fire”, for their contest entry this month, because I really like their singing on this particular song (and you know how much I like Celtic Music, dang it!). For more info on The Maidens IV, visit their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/maidensivband, or their website, www.maidensmusic.com. (If you’re in Chicago, Illinois on May 8th, you can see the Maidens IV performing at Celtic Fest, starting at 6pm!)….

Robyn Ludwick–Desire

Robyn Ludwick is from Austin, Texas, playing Americana, Roots & Texas Country Music. 33 year old Robyn is the little sister of renowned Texas musicians Charlie & Bruce Robison, (Ludwick is her married name), but says she didn’t try to follow in their footsteps, instead using some ”intense experiences that triggered her latent song-writing gene”, to produce songs that are “tender & tough, Southern poetry with dirt floors and electric guitars”. She released her 1st cd, “For So Long”, in 2005, which was named one of the top ten albums of the year by the Austin Chronicle, and earned her a spot on the 2006 SXSW concert, sponsored by No Depression Magazine. Her 2nd cd, ”Too Much Desire”, came out in 2008, and was produced by Danny Barnes of The Bad Livers. Featured on this cd are her husband/bass guitar player, John Ludwick, (who she calls Lunch Meat, and who also plays bass for both Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison), & multi-instrumentalist Mike Hardwick, along with some well-known Austin musicians like Michael Ramos, Andrew Nafziger, Eddie Cantu, & Rich Brotherton (from Robert Earl Keen’s band), along with guest vocals by Eliza Gilkyson and Robyn’s brothers, Charlie & Bruce. Robyn is currently working on a new cd for release this Fall, which is being produced by legendary Texas musician/producer Gurf Morlix, which I will be adding to the HTB rotation as soon as it comes out. (Be listening to my DJ show, Sunday night, May 9th, when I will be playing Robyn’s “Too Much Desire” cd, right after I finish playing Hogjaw!) I’ve chosen Robyn’s song “Desire” for her entry in this month’s contest. Listen closely to the lyrics, it’s about a girl who just has “too much desire”! For more info on Robyn Ludwick, visit her MySpace page, www.myspace.com/robynludwick, or her website, www.robynludwick.com. Both of her cds are available from CDBaby…

The Swinging Steaks–Southside Of The Sky

The Swinging Steaks are from Boston, Massachusetts, playing Rock, Folk Rock & Acoustic Music. They’re a 5-man band, consisting of Tim Giovanniello on vocals, guitar, & lap steel, Jamie Walker on vocals, guitar, mandolin, & slide, Jim Gambino on vocals, piano, & organ, Paul Kochanski on vocals & bass, and Joe Donnelly on vocals, drums, percussion, & hubcap. The Swinging Steaks are considered to be among the orginators of the current Roots/Rock, Alt. Country Movement, and have been together for over 21 years. Their sound has been described by The Austin Chronicle as a “cross between Joe Ely & Lynyrd Skynyrd, or perhaps the Black Crowes”. They’ve appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, and NPR’s Mountain Stage TV shows, and Creem Magazine called them “the best Country/Rock group out of Boston since Gram Parsons put together his International Submarine Band”. They’ve got 5 cds to their credit, and I chose the title track of their 2nd one, “Southside Of The Sky”, (produced in 1993), for their entry in the contest this month. For more info on The Swinging Steaks, you can visit their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/swingingsteaks, or their website, www.swingingsteaks.com…

About Me:

I got started in broadcasting during my stint as a Signalman in the U.S. Navy during the Viet Nam era, working part-time as a DJ and newsman for a ship-board Armed Forces Radio & TV station on the USS Truckee out of Norfolk, Virginia. After being honorably discharged in 1979, I became a mainstream radio DJ and News Director in the Corpus Christi area for over 25 years on 9 different stations, including all 3 of the country-western ones. During that time I received 4 news broadcasting awards, 1 from the Associated Press & 3 from United Press International. I spent the last 5 years of my “career” on KFTX in Corpus Christi, constantly fighting with the program director over having to play their narrow top-ten Nashville music playlist of songs, when I really wanted to play Texas Music. I was finally shown the door after I played a Christmas-time phone request for Robert Earl Keen’s “Merry Christmas From The Family”, which was definitely not on the station’s playlist, (I really hate that word!). Now that I’m on HossTheBoss I can play what I want. Listen to my own dang show on the station every Sunday night at 7 p.m. Central.

Check me out on MySpace

My previous Hossey Music Award Picks