Texarkana Entertainment Blog

There’s a bunch of local live music to enjoy this weekend in addition to George Jones this Saturday night at the Perot Theatre.

Tonight at Hopkins Icehouse it’s a Synergistic unplugged show. Tomorrow, catch the acoustic vibes of Brandon Callies and Kaki Mendoza, two musicians out of Austin. I gave Mendoza’s music a listen on Reverb Nation and she has quite the gorgeous voice.

Chalkline 259 comes back to town tonight for another Fat Jack’s performance; it seems like they’re driving on down here from their Oklahoma home base quite often. And on Saturday night Driven, a popular local country band earning raves, will perform at Jack’s.

Recession Proof plays at the Wooden Indian down in Atlanta, Texas, for a Saturday night concert, while here in town that night at Timothy’s Grill it’s Split Decision performing. That same night Trepid will be rocking hard at Hippy’s Nightlife.

The Big Easy has added live music to its Saturday lineup with the house band playing rhythm and blues.

Tonight at 6 p.m., the talented youth of Kosmic Girlz & Koltrane perform at Central Mall for the hordes of shoppers. Also tonight, it’s dance and party band Tragikly White at Shooters Sports Bar.

In other news ….. Want to hear some fun and local original music? Give the band Buffalo Child a listen, particular the revved-up and rockin’ cut “Good Science.” They describe their music as “rock n’ soul,” and that seems apt to my ears.

It’s been too long since we’ve heard new material from Pilotdrift, the excellent indie music brainchild of local musician Kelly Carr. Thankfully, the band is back with new material, a new single on Good Records. Check out the tune and a video here: Pilotdrift Latest Release – All These Things at One Time.

Edited to add: Current earworms here? SomaFm Christmas music channel and the latest Bon Iver album, which is all kinds of awesome.

- Aaron Brand

Popularity: 1% [?]

The Perot Theatre is drawing some big names these days. Tomorrow, one of country music’s greats, George Jones, comes to town for a concert. We had a chance to catch up with him through an email interview, and he told us it’s the fans who keep him going. “My fans are what keep me working. I love to look out over an audience of young and not-so-young fans and see them singing along to every single song,” Jones, seen in a submitted promo photo below, told us. Just recently, another legend, this time in the realm of folk music, was announced as a soon-to-be-performer at the Perot. That’s Gordon Lightfoot, who will be there Jan. 26. Before that, it’s a true icon in Texas music, the great Willie Nelson at the Perot on Jan. 8. It’s heartening to see big acts coming to the Perot, a worthy venue, in addition to TRAHC’s great lineup for the Perot Theatre series.

- Aaron Brand

Popularity: 3% [?]

We’re marching toward the winter holiday season and there is plenty of live music in the Texarkana area to help you get out, get social and see people. Here’s a look at some of what’s ahead in the coming weeks.

Fat Jack’s welcomes two of the State Line Ave. bar’s regular acts back to the stage this weekend: L.A. Outlaw tonight and Michael DeArmond Band tomorrow night for a Saturday show, to be followed next weekend by 1 Nite Stand on Friday and Crooked Halo on Saturday. DeArmond returns for another show next Thursday, Nov. 10.

Hopkins Icehouse tonight has the popular Jeremy Phifer in for a show, followed by the reggae of Basic 5 for Saturday night. Then next week Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night it’s Nick Brumley, Eskimo Brothers (country and rockabilly from Nashville, Tenn.) and then Gentle Giants (a band from Clarksville, Texas), respectively each night, providing musical entertainment on the cozy Hopkins stage.

Saturday night at Hippy’s Nightlife it’s a three-pronged hard rockin’ show with local rockers Giganto and Sylo, plus TornApart from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Tonight it’s Cash Out Crew (performing their single “Cha Ching”).

At The Road Map on Saturday night it’s Tha Mutha Load paired with Up from Under. This Sunday’s live acoustic has “Possum.”

Shooters Sports Bar has a big show on Friday, Nov. 11, with Brantley Gilbert back in town for another show. He’s popular here; that show is already sold out. This Saturday night sees Boom Kinetic come to Shooters. They’re a party/dance band from the Fayetteville area.

Tonight at Lee’s Catfish and Steakhouse it’s the Acoustic Merlins (Tommy Roeck and Bobby Rogers) performing. MoBetta Band plays a show at the Wagon Wheel on Saturday night.

For blues, the big upcoming event is Friday, Nov. 11, when B.B. King’s daughter Shirley King plays a benefit concert for a fledgling veterans support organization. She performs at Northridge Country Club.

As well, Paul Capps Jr. will perform his blues, country and classic rock at The Blues Iguana on Saturday, Nov. 12.

It’s not live music but local music and party venue Club Primetime will host comedian Joe Torry and Co. on Saturday, Nov. 26. Torry is known for his appearances in “Def Comedy Jam” and various TV and film roles.

Edited to add: Oops, almost forgot … check out the White Trash Wannabees and JB and the Moonshine Band this Saturday night at the Wooden Indian down the road in Atlanta, Texas.

And tickets are still available for George Jones, who is coming to the Perot Theatre for a concert on Nov. 26. He comes to Texarkana as part of the country music legend’s 80th birthday tour. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. that night. Tickets available at TRAHC.org.

- Aaron Brand

Popularity: 2% [?]