March 2009

 

Two Tons of Steel
If there’s one thing Texans love, it’s a good party. But if you ask self-respecting Lone Star carousers what turns a bash into a blast, they won’t say beer or barbecue. They know it all comes down to the music. And there’s one band that can rouse revelers like no other: Two Tons of Steel.

Two Tons’ rambunctious brand of country-rooted rock has been inspiring listeners in the great republic — and far beyond — for more than two decades, and with its 10th album, NOT THAT LUCKY, the band is ready to throw its weight around even more.

NOT THAT LUCKY, the band’s first studio album since 2005’s VEGAS (which ranked among the top 20 Americana albums for 2006) is its fourth helmed by Lloyd Maines, Texas’ most in-demand producer (the Flatlanders, Dixie Chicks, Pat Green, James McMurtry). Explaining why he always clears his schedule for Two Tons of Steel, Maines simply declares, “They’re one of the best bands in Texas.”

And beyond. Already familiar to fans of the Grand Ole Opry, where Two Tons has performed some eight times, and to visitors at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, where it appears in a documentary about country music, Two Tons tours Europe regularly and in 1997, became the first U.S. act in 37 years to perform in the national theater of Havana, Cuba. It’s so beloved in its home state that Two Tons of Steel is featured in the IMAX film, “Texas: The Big Picture,” and is considered an institution at the state’s oldest, most revered dance hall, Gruene Hall, where its annual Two Ton Tuesdays summer series has been selling out for 14 years (and can be witnessed via the 2006 CD/DVD release, TWO TON TUESDAY LIVE!).

The new disc also contains the debut recording of “Without Your Love,” a song by hit-making tunesmith Monte Warden (co-writer of George Strait’s “Desperately”) penned with Two Tons of Steel in mind.

Geil, who wrote the other cuts on NOT THAT LUCKY, until recently had a second career as the San Antonio Express-News’ award-winning senior photographer. A massive round of layoffs gave him the opportunity to concentrate on the band fulltime. With the kind of work ethic that already has the band performing 200 dates a year, consistently earning top honors in San Antonio music polls and backing by its new label, Smith Entertainment Records, Two Tons is chomping at the bit. The band is itching to get out and pump up new audiences with its Two Tons cheer and its now-classic countrified version of the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” (a take so popular, other bands have covered it), not to mention its new tunes.

“We’re primed right now,” says Geil. “We’re ready to go.” Ready to ladle out some hot molten steel, that is.

Two Tons of Steel opens for Little Texas at the Saturday Night Concert on the Red Poppy Stage.

Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes
If you like to dance, if you like to watch a great show, if you like to party, if you’re looking for fun, then you’re going to love Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes. Recently named as one of the top ten party bands in the United States by Harper’s Bazaar magazine, their show not only captures the authentic sounds of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, but the look, feel and fun as well.
The Hot Tomatoes are three dazzling female vocalists who take the stage decked out in one outrageous costume after another: big hair, shimmy dresses, sequins, and skin-tight leopard pants. “Rotel & the Hot Tomatoes are beehives for breakfast, leopard-skin for lunch, and satin for supper. They’d rather walk the poodle than do the dog”, wrote music columnist Michael Corcoran in The Austin American Statesman. And when the Hot Tomatoes turn the stage into a three-ring circus as they dance, strut, sing, and stomp, you’re sure to have as much fun as the law allows!

Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes will be performing live on the Red Poppy Stage for the Friday Night Concert!

The Biscuit Brothers
The Biscuit Brothers started as a live act long before the television show and they have never stopped performing live. They have played large music festivals, 2000 seat concert halls, fairs and rodeos, theatres, schools, hospitals, museums, libraries, farms, picnics . . . and more. They’ve received 2 LONE STAR EMMY® Awards for excellence in Children’s programming, a National Parenting Publication Award (NAPPA Gold), 6 Albums released, 4 DVDs released, Hundreds of Live Performances including venues like the Austin City Limits Music Festival, SXSW, and Texas State Fair. The Biscuit Brothers play a variety of instruments accompanied by a backup band. Their highly entertaining, engaging songs and musical interaction is designed to motivate families to “Go Make Music” in their own lives!

The Biscuit Brothers will be performing on Saturday, April 24 at 2:15 p.m. and also at 4:00 p.m. on the Celebrate Georgetown Stage.

Kori Jean Olsen
Kori Jean was born in Provo Utah, but definitely calls Austin Texas home. Kori Jean moved to Austin when she was 10 yrs old with her family who was relocating for work. Kori Jean became interested in music as a young child and started vocal and piano lessons at age 8. As Kori Jean developed her talents, she started to perform at local events in the Round Rock area. At the age of 14, Kori Jean traveled to New Mexico, Colorado and a number of towns across Texas performing as the lead vocal in a choral group. This experience solidified in Kori Jean’s mind that she wanted to try and make music her future career. At the age of 16, Kori Jean entered a contest called “Austin Idol” being sponsored by the Fox News affiliate in Austin. Kori Jean finished second in the Austin Idol contest and was able to go to the American Idol tryouts in Dallas followed by Fox News.

The next big step for Kori Jean was finding a studio and producer to work with to get songs, musicians, and great production to complete a record. The recording process was a great learning experience for Kori Jean. She was able to work with some fantastic Austin musicians and songwriters. The short list included seasoned musicians and songwriters such as Walt Wilkins (We All Cry), John Hagen (cello on Reason Why), Kenny Grimes (Lead Guitar), Cindy Cashdollar ( lap steel and pedal steel), along with many others. The record named “Reason Why” was completed in the summer of 2009 and Kori Jean began to assemble a band to support the record in live shows. The band forming experience was another learning opportunity for Kori Jean, and after a few month process settled on four great musicians that complimented her style.  Kori Jean is currently writing songs for her next project, and can be found playing live in Austin Texas and the surrounding region, as well as Nashville Tennessee.

Kori Jean will be performing Saturday, April 24 at 6:00 p.m. on the Red Poppy Poppy Stage!

  
Jul & the Chrome Wheels
Jul & the Chrome Wheels band is a variety of Rock/blues/country/reggae and more.  The Chrome Wheels have been playing all around Central Texas for five years at fine places such as The Oasis, The Peir, Carlos ‘n Charlie’s, North by Northwest Brewery, Baby A’s and many other fine establishments. Recently, the Chrome Wheels graced the stage for the third year running at Travis County Expo Center for R.O.T Rally 2009 for thousands of motorcycle lovers. The Chrome Wheels band has appeared on Fox News for an early morning performance, and has been on local PACT tv many times through the last couple of years on Time Warner Cable channel 10 in Austin. Their first CD is in the mix-down process and is soon to be released. It is a “LIVE” performance at the OASIS on Lake Travis. Jul & the Chrome Wheels are sure to be seen climbing to the top of the ranks of  TRULY GREAT BANDS in Central Texas!!

Jul and the Chrome Wheels will be performing Friday Night at 7:00 p.m. on the Red Poppy Stage!

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