I have been so busy the past few months things have pretty much been out of control. But I'm not really complaining I have had some good times with some good friends. And when I got back from my Austin/New Braunfels RCPM roadtrip I took a promotion at work and have been even busier since. I still need to go back and finish my Circus Mexicus recap, I still have tons of video footage and photos that haven't seen the light of day and I still haven't completely settled in to our new place (we moved in April) but I finally have some time this morning to post the first half of my birthday weekend pictures. Some of these showed up on Facebook yesterday but here's the official post.

My 34th was by far my best birthday ever. My birthday was actually on a Monday this year so I decided to take the entire weekend leading up to my birthday to celebrate. Lucky for me The Mother Truckers one of my favorite bands from Austin was playing both Friday and Saturday night in Dallas/Fort Worth. We kicked off my birthday weekend in Fort Worth with tacos, friends and family at Fuzzy's.

       

My friends Tami and Lee showed up, old friends Cheryl and Tommy came out and one of my favorite girlfriends from back in the day, Laura, came out too. She even brought a friend to join the fun. And apparently we didn't scare off our new RCPM friend Brian either because he came out to enjoy tacos and live music with us again. I know a lot of my friends wanted to be there and couldn't make it, but they were there in spirit. I was pleasantly surprised that my parents, my brother and niece and my aunts and uncles showed up too. My Uncle Celso from Toledo was even there. Fuzzy's was loud and crowded but the food is great and the beer is cheap I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Family didn't stay for the band but I am so glad they came out to enjoy tacos & celebrate with me.

After fish tacos, nachos and beer the rest of us headed next door to The Aardvark to hang out before the show.

                   

I loved hangin' out with old friends, new friends, catchin' up, drinkin' whiskey & sumthin...it's my new thing, getting my nails painted with mood nail polish (like a mood ring) in an atrocious shade of green by my new friend Cheryl. I chatted w/Teal of The Mother Truckers in the ladies room before the show and enjoyed a birthday shot of Jameson (that took me over the edge) w/Tommy and Josh of The Mother Truckers after the show.

The Mother Truckers rocked. They always do. I've seen them at least a dozen times in Austin and opening for that other band I am crazy about but it was nice to have my own personal rock show. The drew a pretty small crowd in Fort Worth so I was glad I could help them out and bring out a few more. I was a little disappointed in the setlist but since they just released a new CD (Van Tour--go get it now) they concentrated on the new stuff. One of these days I will get them to play "Put The Gun Down". It's my husband's song for me. You just gotta hear it to understand. Teal blew me away with "Keep It Simple", it's up there with her versions of "Love Me Like A Man" and "When I Get My Wings". I love her voice. I want to be her when I grow up...if I ever grow up. 

               

So yeah, the last shot of Jameson took me over the edge just ask my husband. I know there was some post show Waffle House in there somewhere, but overall I had the best night. I woke up the next morning ready to do it all over again. I always do. And I did.

Night two is here!

This has been a great spring/summer for live music. Just the other day I shared my new love for American Aquarium a band I first heard when they opened for Roger Clyne. Did you know there's another band I saw open for Roger Clyne the very next night in Oklahoma City that totally hooked me? 

Sons of Bill.

I'd actually heard these guys a few weeks before on Mountain Stage thanks to KXT, the new NPR music station in DFW (if you are in the North Texas area and appreciate good music you need to be listening to this station). I loved what I heard on Mountain Stage but didn't even realize it was the same band until just before they started performing. They were incredible on stage at Wormy Dog and left with many new fans, including me. So, imagine my excitement when I learned they would be in my hometown on my husband's and my anniversary!

At the Randy Rogers Band Stockyard Stampede

 behind Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, TX

where we claimed the only mud free spot.

Happy Anniversary to us...

9 YEARS!

So back to Sons of Bill,

I fell in love with these guys immediately but honestly haven't listened to their CDs as much as I've listened to American Aquarium (who also happen to be good friends of Sons of Bill and toured with them recently), but that's simply because the American Aquarium CDs are great driving music and I've mostly been listening to CDs in my car because I haven't updated my iPod in forever). But seeing Sons of Bill twice in concert now, I also realized their albums do not do them justice. These guys are a live band with an incredible energy and a passion to perform.

The band is made up of three brothers:

Sam

James

and Abe

and their two good friends

Seth (the most rockin'-est bass player ever)

and Todd

After Sons of Bill we enjoyed some Cooper's BBQ.

We intended to head back to the Stockyard Stampede for performances by Everclear, MC Hammer & of course Randy Rogers Band after stopping in to work to check on the dogs but plans changed and we never made it back out there. But at least we got to see Sons of Bill and I can't wait to see them again and again!

I am an American Aquarium drinker...

So that's from the Wilco song "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" and the namesake of my new favorite band. American Aquarium.

We first experienced American Aquarium a few weeks ago as the first of two opening bands at the RCPM Boiler Room show in Denton. We heard their brief soundcheck and thought they sounded pretty good. Once they got on stage for their set, we were quite impressed. In fact, I feel bad that Lauren and I were making fun of the two girls on the front row who were singing along to all the songs. 

We noticed they were the only ones in audience that knew all the words. American Aquarium is their Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, I guess. We just didn't know what those girls already knew. Because these guys rocked!

This is the first song that really stuck out that night:

Rattlesnake

She's got the kisses of a thousand angels
And the bite of a rattlesnake 

and...

I Hope He Breaks Your Heart

But after listening to their Dances For The Lonely and Small Town Hymns albums for two weeks straight, I I love all their songs!

Earlier this week they were back in Fort Worth for a Monday night show at Woody's Tavern. There were maybe 7 people there. I mean it was a Monday night in Fort Worth...but these guys rocked and even played my request Katherine Belle. It felt like our own personal concert. After the show we chatted with the incredibly nice (and cute) bass player Bill.

         

I don't know how to write a music review, I just know what I like and I LOVE them. So here's some video I took and you can judge for yourself:

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...