Texarkana Entertainment Blog

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% [?]

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.

Popularity: 1% [?]

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.

Popularity: 2% [?]

A quickie roundup:

Live music this weekend is plentiful in Texarkana, starting with Chalk Line 259 tonight and Crooked Halo tomorrow night for Fat Jack’s Oyster and Sports Bar. Hopkins Icehouse has the blues of John Calvin Brewer tonight and then Kiley Bland back in town for Saturday. At the Blues Iguana tonight, you can catch Jasper McAdams, Nude Beach and the fun and talented hometown crew of the band Ida Myrtis. Over at Lee’s Catfish this evening it’s the super trio of Candace Taylor, Anthony G. Parrish and Jimmy Roberts – doesn’t it seem like a great spring day to check out their music on the Lee’s Catfish patio? Brantley Gilbert comes to Shooters Sports Bar tonight as well. The Maytag Opry has its house band and Laquita Moore, Jimmy Calicott and Dwayne Johnson tonight. Mystery Machine plays at Cedar Shake for Saturday night, and the Big Easy downtown on Broad has started hosting Sunday night rap battles.

Do you have some live music coming up to recommend? Let us know!

- Aaron Brand

Popularity: 1% [?]

Friday night’s big headliner at Shooters Sports Bar is none other than Arkansas country musician Justin Moore (he is from itty bitty Poyen), who has a new song out (“If Heaven Wasn’t so Far Away”) and an album due to arrive later this year.

Hopkins Icehouse has Josh McGee of Nacogdoches, Texas, playing his folk and roots-inspired tunes Friday night, then Dean Agus on Saturday night. For Fat Tuesday next week, celebrate letting loose for Mardi Gras with those terrific troubadours Dave Almond and Trey Johnson.

Trey Johnson plays with the Droppers Saturday night at Timothy’s Grill. Friday night at Skyward Jazz Lounge there’s a BYOB, old school house party for the 25 and up set. Just a few door down on Sunday night it’s live blues and R&B at The Big Easy.

Fat Jack’s has L.A. Outlaw Friday night and Synergistic Saturday night. For Fat Tuesday it’s Strangelove playing those ’80s hits.

Marissa Dodge and George Buckner play at the Blues Iguana Friday night starting at 8 p.m. Later this month (March 25, to be exact), that downtown venue hosts Jasper McAdams, Nude Beach and locals Mark Meadows and his band Ida Myrtis.

The Wooden Indian has the glam outfit Butt Roxx on Saturday night. The Inside plays at The Road Map the same night for a Mardi Gras gig.

Dave’s Skatepark has an all-ages show coming up on Friday, March 18, headed up by a band (Arabrot) who come here all the way from Oslo, Norway. On their Facebook page, they list their genre as “hard noiserock.” Interesting. They’ll be joined by Wizard Rifle from Portland, OR, and our very own Giganto.

Check Best Bets on Fridays to see what’s happening in music.

Music: local and alive.

Got some live music to recommend? Let us know here.

- Aaron Brand

Popularity: 1% [?]

Music lovers who hear the name Cody Canada typically associate the Oklahoma musician with Cross Canadian Ragweed. Canada comes to Texarkana with a new band in tow, the Departed, tomorrow night for a Friday concert at the Coliseum. The show starts at 9 p.m.

Also this weekend are Synergistic on Friday night and Jason Helms Saturday night at Fat Jack’s. The Inside, who’ve been rocking around Texarkana a long time, plays classic rock and originals at The Branch Office on Saturday night, while over at Hopkins Icehouse it’s Tommy Roeck for Friday and Kiley Bland of pop-punk band Junior on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Glen “SmittyG” Smith’s improvisational Narada Weeps project includes two fellas from Mystery Machine in Raj Adcock and Scott Lent, all playing together at the Blues Iguana; Mystery Machine then plays Wednesday at Shooters Sports Bar, a venue where country act Justin Moore plays a week from tomorrow on Friday, March 4. On Saturday, March 5, rock your booty to celebrate Mardi Gras with Butt Roxx at the Wooden Indian.

Classically speaking, it’s the Quapaw String Quartet performing over in Hope, Ark., at the UACCH Rapert Library Auditorium on Thursday night.

And tonight at the Big Easy it’s soft jazz and rhythm & blues with live poetry. That’s just some of what’s happening in live, local music. Got something to recommend? Let us know about it!

- Aaron Brand

Popularity: 1% [?]

There’s a whole lot happening musically this weekend and into next week. One big show on tap is the rocking country of Brantley Gilbert. He lands at Shooters Sports Bar on Saturday night, and that venue also hosts its 4th Annual Biker Bash on Sunday with bands, a poker run, crawfish boil, and auction. Fat Jack’s has Synergistic (they are busy) tonight and Crooked Halo on Saturday. Tomorrow night at Club Next it’s Housecore Records artist Warbeast and local rockers Psylo; Psylo has been working on a new single and CD for Covered Bridge Records. Off the Line hosts an open jam with Andi on Saturday, and The Wooden Indian has Alan Fox Band Saturday night.

Then on Sunday night The Sideshow Tragedy brings a new album to town for a CD release show at Fat Jack’s. They are a unique, compelling, Austin-based band. Equally impressive is musician and singer Amanda Shires, who is also known for her work with The Thrift Store Cowboys; her album “West Cross Timbers” was picked by No Depression community members as one of the top 50 of 2009. She brings her beautiful voice to town for a show at Pop’s Place next Thursday night.

That’s just a few of the upcoming bands and local musicians playing in the next week. For more live music options, check the Gazette’s weekly listing of music, arts, and events happening in the region; you can find it online: Best Bets.

- Aaron Brand

Amanda Shires, seen here in a promo photo, is coming to Texarkana for a Thursday show at Pop's Place starting at 8 p.m.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Texarkana did very well for itself at “The Hard Road to Nashville” auditions held at Shooters Sports Bar in mid-April. Eight people who auditioned here locally are invited back for the next round of auditions in Nashville, Tenn., late this year. Originally, those auditions were to take place in August but because of the flooding that hit the city those audition days are yet to be determined. The winners after this next round are headed out on a tour bus to live a musician’s life on the road with Universal recording artist Bobby Chitwood. Here are the lucky eight who have a shot at appearing on this reality TV show: Sue Ellen McLelland, Jessica Mills, Tyler Timmons, T.J. McAlexander, Jimmy Goodson, April Jones, John Dixon, Jared McCasland. More info: The Hard Road to Nasvhille.

- Aaron Brand

Popularity: 1% [?]

I talked with country music recording artist and Arkansas native Joe Nichols recently about his latest album, “Old Things New,” and what it means to him. For Nichols, it was a new direction for him professionally, the first CD he’s recorded, he said, while sober. It’s a special album for him, and he brings his new songs and old to Shooters Sports Bar tomorrow night, Thursday, for a show starting around 9:30 p.m. You can catch the interview and story here: Old Things New marks change in direction for Nichols.

- Aaron Brand

This submitted promo photo shows country music artist Joe Nichols, who is appearing at Shooters Sports Bar.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Two notable country music performers are headed to Texarkana this week for concerts, each with new music along for the ride. The Randy Rogers Band hits town tomorrow, Thursday, for a 9:30 p.m. show at Shooters Sports Bar on the Arkansas side of town. (Tickets are $15.) Rogers and crew are set to release a new album, “Burning the Day,” later this year. The band plays a lot of shows on the road, and Rogers says this helps the band tighten up its sound. I interviewed Rogers recently and here’s our story from the Friday Accent page: Randy Rogers ‘Burning the Day.’

Then on Friday, 7 p.m., at Oaklawn Opry it’s David Ball, a Grammy Award winner who is back with the album “Sparkle City” and a new backup band, The Pioneer Playboys. If you recognize Ball’s name, chance are it’s in connection to songs like “Thinkin’ Problem” or “Riding With Private Malone.” Last year Lyle Lovett covered one of Ball’s songs on his new album. Tickets are $12 for this show.

- Aaron Brand

Submitted photos:

Popularity: 2% [?]