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.

Chris Dair – Last Fall

Chris is back again! If you’ve been paying much attention to this dang show for the last year or so, that’s probably all I need to say. But, for the sake of keeping my reputation for a rambler in tact, I’ll remind you that this song is off the “Crossroads to Freedom” CD that he has talked about so eloquently on my dang show. I’ll also remind you that Chris is married to a wonderful singer named Vivian and that if ya’ll vote this song into the Top 5 this month (or even if you don’t) I will very likely make a new song thta Chris and Vivian did together one of my picks for March. Chris’s MySpace Page.

Janet Ryan Band – What I Like Best

I’m just now finding out about this band from Western Massachusetts, but I love what I hear. Thanks to band member Ray Chaput for looking me up and sending me several tunes. I picked this song because it’s the most Valentiney of the ones Ray sent me, and it’s a little unusual to hear a blues song that’s also good for Valentines Day. Janet’s got a really tight, groovin’ little band, and I can’t wait for her to become a regular on this stupid little show.

Jashuwa- Baby

I need to start this blurb by pointing out that Andy Lorge of Wisconsin gets co-credit for this song. Andy is a bit of a celebrity on my dang station because he is a previous winner in our silly little contest. Well, as many of the musicians we play do, Andy went and told his friend Jashuwa to send me some stuff, too. And, Jashuwa did. And the song I picked happened to be one that he did with Andy. That ought to be worth a few votes, there anyway, huh? I am just gettin’ to know Jashuwa myself, but I love the way he mixes a bunch of different “genres” into one song. That’s The Hoss Way, definitely. I love it when people can’t figure out what “kind” of song it is we’re playing.  You can find out more about Jashuwa and hear more of his stuff at the MySpace page for his band X-ile.

Jim Oakes – He Won’t Walk Away

Jim is a member of a great band called 484 South that Tony Kinsel has picked for this show several times in the last year or so.  But this is a song that Jim did on his own several years ago, and he felt called to share it with my little station. (He has never released it to any other station.) The story behind the song is as inspiring as the tune itself. But, for that, you’ll have to listen to my dang live show. In the meantime, check out the 484 South MySpace page. They are a great bunch of guys, and it’s been fun becoming their friends via this stupid little show.

Paul McCormick – Dance

Paul is back! Whooo hoooo! (Or as he would say in the many incomprehensible emails he’s sent me over the years…. “Gawd Dam, Dude! Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!) Due to, well, let’s just call them “technical difficulties,” I didn’t put any of my Scottish buddy’s songs in the contest last year, but we’re off to a great start for 2011! Paul has been a guest DJ, and he’s introduced me to several of the great musicians we’ve featured on the show over the years. So it’s great to have him back with this song off his “Pablo’s Vineyard” CD that I just love. Due to previously mentioned “technical difficulties” Paul is difficult to find anywhere except the old fashioned ways (in otherwords, he has no website). It’s a strong bet that  he’ll make himself available for Interview Week, if you push him through to the Top 10 by then. So, if you want to know more about ole’ Paul, you gotta get to votin’.

Stick Martin Show – To Be An Aging Hipster

This guys are a freaky, creepy, funny, and interesting bunch from Tampa Bay (the same locale as our January winner Wendy Rich, oddly enough). Judging by some of their other music, on MySpace, I can’t wait to get them on for Interview Week. So, Hoss officially commands you to do your dang duty and vote for these guys so they’ll be in the Top 10 by then. I picked this song because, of course, we do have a lot of aging hipsters listening. (Aging hippies, too, of course!)

Tracy Herron – Stormin’ Love

Like Paul McCormick above, Tracy doesn’t do much on the internet. So he’s depending on you, dear listener to spread the word about him yourself if you like what you hear. If you want to visit with Tracy in person, just look him up at his day job for a dang haircut. He’s been the sole proprietor of Tracy’s Barbershop and Record Store on Williams Drive here in Corpus Christi for many years, and I’m ashamed to say that I’m one of the few long-time Corpus people who have never had him do any dang work on my hair. That will definitely change next month. Tracy’s shop is a great place to go if you’re into rock-n-roll and the blues. He’s  first cousins with Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, and he’s been playin’ some dang good blues himself for probably even longer than he’s been cuttin’ hair. So he’ll talk your shoes off about all that, for sure. This guy is a true Texas Character, and this song is the coolest of the songs he did on the CD he put out a few years ago by the same name.

See My Previous Picks

November 2008 | December 2008 | January 2009 | February 2009 | April 2009 | May 2009 | June 2009 | July 2009 | August 2009 | September 2009 | October 2009 | November 2009 | January 2010 | February 2010 | March 2010 | April 2010 | May 2010 | June 2010 | July 2010 | August 2010 | September 2010 | November 2010 | January 2010