Texarkana Entertainment Blog

Last year one of the most unbelievably fun features I did involved checking out the weekly Stanhope’s Art, Framing & Stationery Art & Libations event. Artists sign up to attend as they wish; it’s casual. They each recreate or “redo” the same painting together during an evening art session, each student painting with their own approach and color choice and brush strokes. They learn along the way. Artists may bring a beverage of his or her choice – hence the “libations.” It’s a social, somewhat informal way to learn how to make art and, most importantly, enjoy art at Merilynn Johnson’s State Line Avenue shop.

Stanhope’s has a neat special project planned for the last two Thursday evening Art & Libations events in August. It’s a group project for Opportunities, Inc., which serves both adults and kids with disabilities right here in Texarkana. One large piece will be created from all of the smaller art pieces that people make. Johnson hopes to collect 25 to 30 canvases to make this big piece to be given to Opportunities, Inc. Artists interested need only sign up for one Thursday night session. To get involved or find out more info, call Stanhope’s at 870-774-5352.

- Aaron Brand

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I’ve been discovering new music this summer. That’s been a pretty conscious effort on my part because earlier this year I felt that I generally obsessed over the “same old, same old” bands and musicians, so I’ve ventured forth, armed with my iTunes and headphones, to find bands new to me (not new to others, I’m sure). One great thing about music is that there’s always more to discover.

Tops on the list of my new music loves are Mumford & Sons, a band I should have added to my listening rotation much, much earlier. Sometimes when bands gain tons of popularity quickly, as happened with the Mumfords and their smash success “Sigh No More,” I resist following the crowd. My bad on this one, that’s for sure. The album, which justly brought them Grammy noms, is a charming thing of beauty and depth, songs fat with wisdom that stick in my mind all day. Amazing to think this band is only four years old or so.

More new discoveries are First Aid Kit (sweet-sounding, folk-rocking-out young damsels from Sweden), Fleet Foxes (sublimely beautiful Seattle folk rockers), Freelance Whales (uh, a lot of bands starting with the letter “F” up in here) … and I must admit I finally fell in love with Arcade Fire. Right now I’m listening to African Internet Radio. My music tastes are all over the map and it’s a big map (the kind you find in old National Geographic mags).

What have you been listening to this summer? What do you recommend?

- Aaron Brand

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Event organizers hope to provide a splashing good time Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Texas High School band practice field with an event called Water Balloon Palooza. Think of it as a community water balloon fight for anyone ages six and up. Originally, the two recent high school grads organizing it intended to go for a Guinness World Record, but scaled down those ambitious plans a bit due to the sheer logistics. They still want to have fun and see others have a great time cooling off with some water balloons tossed back and forth. We previewed the water balloon in Tuesday’s Gazette. Any folks out there planning on attending? It sounds like a blast … and a splash.

- Aaron Brand

Staff photo by Adam Sacasa. Texas High School graduates Mackenzie Morrow, left, and Mary Faith Covey are organizing a free, community water balloon fight for Saturday in Texarkana.

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I just came home from running Saturday morning errands (typically hay, coffee, groceries – in that order) and scrolled through my Facebook newsfeed to discover that Amy Winehouse died.

While the news was not shocking, given Winehouse’s reported condition in recent years, it remains sobering and sad. Cue a million lame jokes about how she should’ve gone to rehab; they will be littering social network sites for days, I’m sure. I was not an active Amy Winehouse fan, but I always respected her voice and, in particular, the soulfulness behind it. In some singers, you sense they sing from the heart; she was one of them. She was an amazing talent, but even great art and thrilling talent can’t transcend a crippling addiction unless it’s confronted honestly and squarely so the addict can change his or her life. One more artist is now a gone-too-soon statistic. Not a laughing matter.

- Aaron Brand

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Some pretty interesting shows are coming up in Texarkana and its environs soon. Here’s a quick look at some of what’s ahead.

If your taste runs to Red Dirt country, then Stoney LaRue might be your man. He plays at Shooters Sports Bar tomorrow night, Friday, with the hard-working Jason Helms Band of Southwest Arkansas opening up for LaRue, who has a new album due out at the end of next month (“Velvet”).

Hopkins Icehouse has Julian Primeaux on tap for Saturday night. I interviewed him and saw his show when he came through town last year—and it was some enjoyable, swampy blues that had the gritty taste of South Louisiana in there. Honestly, I loved it and may have to get back and see him on the Hopkins stage once again.

Hopkins also has The Anatomy of Frank headed to town for a show a week from tonight, next Thursday. The Anatomy is headed by Kyle Woolard, whom I interviewed for a story coming up in tomorrow’s Gazette, and these fellas hail from Virginia. A young band, they’re still developing their sound but it’s promising indie rock pop goodness. Normally a five-piece outfit, they’ll be a duo here and focus on an electronic show for the Hopkins stage. Woolard was a thoughtful interview. I think Anatomy of Frank is worth checking out if you’re looking for something different.

That’s just a bit of the live music coming up. Check Friday’s Best Bets for a rundown of the bands performing in the following week. And if you have something to let us know about, pop me an e-mail.

Edited to add: Are you a Death Cab for Cutie fan? See Sunday’s Accent page for my review of “Codes and Keys.” Finally got to review it. I dig it.

- Aaron Brand

Kyle Woolard and Virginia-based The Anatomy of Frank will perform at Hopkins Icehouse on Thursday, July 28.

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I don’t feel comfortable getting too personal about people’s lives here in a blog, but I want to get a message out to folks that someone heavily involved in the local music scene here in Texarkana has fallen on some seriously tough times and, in order to raise funds to get much-needed medical attention and get back on his feet, is selling music gear.

It’s a pretty wide-ranging collection of stuff: Mac computer and various accessories; audio equipment and effects (including pedals, guitar effect units, mics, speakers, monitors, recording console, line/mic mixers, guitar amplifiers); studio and live audio/video hardware (cables, headphones, stands); other supplies and a couple guitars. If interested, drop me a line ASAP on e-mail via abrand (at) texarkanagazette.com and I’ll get back with more info pronto. Thanks!

- Aaron Brand

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I’m sitting here on a Friday catching a small breather from the week’s stories and planning next week’s reads while listening to some Fleet Foxes, Bob Marley and Jane’s Addiction. It’s a good moment to catch up on some local live music happenings coming up for Texarkana, don’t ya think?

This weekend, perennial local faves Ms. Mac & the Groovetones are playing up at Fat Jack’s tonight and then tomorrow it’s Texas country/Red Dirt with Jeremy Phifer at Jack’s.

Catch the great Trey & Dave up there at Jack’s on Thursday night; they’re two of the best things about the regional music scene, to my ears. Tonight they’re at Lee’s Catfish. And Trey will also perform with the Droppers on July 16, a week from tomorrow, at Timothy’s Grill.

Other live acts this weekend include Tragikly White tonight at Shooters Sports Bar (for a “beach party”) and Hopkins Icehouse on Saturday with Synergistic. Then next Wednesday check out North Carolina metal band Burnstitch at The Blues Iguana.

Down the road apiece, it’s a Pocket Park show downtown on Saturday, July 16. It’s all-ages and $5 for four bands: Ballet Brutality, Beararms, Us and the Ship, Buffalo Child. Apart from Bossier/Shreverpot-based Ballet Brutality, that’s a lineup of young, Texarkana indie bands. Get out and support some local kids if you can; I’m sure they’ll appreciate the audience. Ballet Brutality describes themselves as “metal/classical/experimental,” and I’m giving their song “Mrs. Pacman’s Lobotomy” a listen right now as I type. I believe those descriptors apply indeed.

Mystery Machine plays its only summer show up at Hopkins Icehouse that same day. And White Trash Wannabees play The Wooden Indian in Atlanta, Texas, also the same day.  Then The Road Map brings Scorpion Child, Tha Mutha Load and Giganto up to the stage July 21; that should be a fierce show to rock you.

Friday, July 22, brings two different but very interesting acts to town: Oklahoma’s very own Stoney LaRue, who plays that night at Shooters Sports Bar, and, over at Fat Jack’s, Dim Lit Daylight coming in once again from Austin, Texas.

Music City Texas Theater follows up the T-Bone Walker Blues Fest with a fingerpickin’ guitar master and acclaimed acoustic country musician, Doyle Dykes, on July 23. If you’ve never heard his version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” track it down. It’s a gem.

- Aaron Brand

Doyle Dykes plays Music City Texas Theater on July 23.

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