What can I say? Gruene Hall = Best. RCPM. Shows. Ever.

Austin, oh how miss Austin. It's been just over a year since we moved back to DFW from Austin. I love, love, love everything about Austin and couldn't imagine missing an RCPM show in my favorite Texas city. This time my friend Betty from Florida by way of New York who I met at a show in Las Vegas flew in to join Michael and me for the Antone's and Gruene Hall shows this weekend. I haven't seen Betty since...October... when she did the San Antonio & Houston shows with us! <insert girly scream here>

Betty & Michael & Brian outside Antone's

(I stole this with a little help from my friends last night)

The setlist

 

While Antone's is a great venue, the crowd here really annoys me. I stayed up front for maybe half a dozen songs before making my way upstairs to my VIP table. 

Once there I found everyone was just kinda sittin' around, relaxing enjoying the show. I sat on my stool for maybe half a song before I got to my feet and apologized to the other folks in the VIP section with me because they were all going to hate me in about 5 minutes. I think I kept apologizing for the first 15 minutes up there as I was dancing and singing along. They really didn't mind because before too long I had the guys in the table in front of me on their feet rockin' with me. It took the other folks a little longer but by encore they too were on the floor dancing and singing.

We had a pretty great view and it sounded great. 

Who needs to fight drunk bimbos for the spot you secured 2 hours before the show. I am officially spoiled w/VIP.

 

After the show we saw Roger go in to John Malkovich's head :)

 

Friends...rockstars...

Tonight we continue on to New Braunfels and historic Gruene Hall.

 

So yeah...they rocked. What else is there to say..

And I freakin' love this photo of Roger with a bottle Lone Star!

 

 

Of course something rare and very special happened at this show. Roger broke one of the few policies they have as a band and just before he played Green & Dumb, let our friend Robert on stage to propose to his girlfriend Lauren. 

Going in to the show we weren't sure if it was going to happen after all because of the band's policy to not do proposals/birthday greetings in the middle of shows but some of Robert's friends didn't give up and managed to flag down Roger before the show and lo and behold he did it. It was the sweetest moment. Robert stepped on stage, voice all shaky and nervous got down on one knee and presented her with the ring. I totally love the band even more for doing this for them.

Roger & Jim gave them each guitar picks and after the show all the guys signed the setlist with congratulations and drew a heart that said R+L Forever or something like that. So sweet!!

Oh and yeah, she said yes! Congratulations Robert & Lauren.

 

Last but not least, photos with the band! (I finally got a chance to chat with P.H. and get a picture) 

 

And so ends night #1 of the RCPM Rocks Texas weekend. Time to pack the car & head south on 35 for Austin,TX and another night. This time with BETTY!

 

We kicked off the RCPM Rocks Texas weekend with a hometown show at Aardvark on Thursday night. Both new and old friends from the area joined us at Fuzzy's for pre-show tacos and cheap beer. Good food, good beer, good times. I couldn't think of a better way to start 3 back to back RCPM shows. I love my peacemaker friends!!

 

 

I always have such a great time chatting with other fans before the shows. There's never really a stranger in the crowd. With RCPM in common how can you not be fast friends?

These are a few of my beautiful amigos y amigas.

And then there's the Mr. and me.

 

The Criminal Kind opened the show and treated us to their Austin, TX rock 'n' roll! Short set but they were quite good. 

 

And of course some little band from Tempe, AZ came on stage around1030. They opened with one of my favorite Refreshments' songs, Preacher's Daughter and so began another incredible Peacemaker show.

 

...to be continued...

 

 

Hard to believe we pulled this off..

Got home from the Denton show around 4 a.m. slept as late as possible, dropped the dogs off at my work (doggie day care) grabbed some lunch and headed North on 35 for Oklahoma City. We've always wanted to make the Wormy Dog shows but it never seems to come together. This time, thanks to encouragement from our new friends Robert & Lauren, we made it happen. We decided to save some cash and not get a hotel room so we knew we had a long night ahead of us that would probably end with us catching some shut eye in a truck stop parking lot or rest area. It's okay, kids, we used to live and travel in a VW camper. We're professionals.

I liked The Wormy Dog and glad we finally saw a show there. Good vibe, saddles for barstools and lots of photos and memorabilia of the acts that perform there.

The crowd was friendlier than I expected but I DID NOT like the barricade between the stage and audience. 

We managed to get there early enough to stake our claim up front with Robert, Lauren, Tawni and Brian all of who we hung out with at The Boiler Room the night before. Two opening bands again and once again great openers. We all loved the previous night's band American Aquarium, bought their CDs and listened to them the entire trip up to Oklahoma.

Jason Boots treated us to his quirky vocal stylings again and then the Sons of Bill. Man, can Bill's boys rock! Before the show someone asked me if I'd ever heard Sons of Bills and I said no. But just before they stepped on stage something clicked and I recognized their name from an episode of Mountain Stage on NPR a few weeks ago. I remember the interview and how 3 of the bandmembers were brothers and of course their dad's name was Bill and remembered one of their songs about the South had really made an impression I recognized it right away when the played it. Joey's Arm

I regret not taking any video of this band but plan to see them again in the very near future.

Two back to back nights of great opening bands. We could've left after Sons of Bill and been very happy, but of course we are Peacemaker fans first and foremost so we stuck around to see them. As I wrote in my brief review on the message board, they played the standards but took some requests and we got to hear Suckerpunch! (first time for me) I managed to get most of it on video for my friend Betty.It's a little dark but audio isn't bad.

My new friend Lauren requested Sleep Like A Baby after the show in Denton and Roger came through for her, so that made her night. No more video but here's a few photos.

The boys are still traveling light (limited and borrowed gear) since The Stallion blew a head gasket but are off to Kansas City in the van. Lucky for us they'll be back in Texas later this week. We have four shows to look forward to. I better catch up on my sleep.

Ooops. Almost forgot this picture:

Around 4 o'clock Friday I was seriously considering NOT going to this show. 

Denton is only a 40 minute drive or so but still recovering from Mexico and the cold I seemed to have brought home with me I really wasn't sure I could handle another show so soon. '

Yeah, whatever!