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!

 

 

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: