the gourds

Thanks to the amazing folks at the Granada, we are giving away a pair of tickets to see two of Texas' best bands: The Gourds and Brave Combo this Saturday, January 2nd at the Dallas' best music venue. The Gourds are a BoT favorite, and are a hell of a lot more than just "Gin and Juice" - and are formidable multi-headed country, rock, bluegrass, and roots monster. The Grammy-Winning Brave Combo play a wholly different type of music (probably than any band in existence), masterfully blending zydeco, polka, salsa, rock, blues, and more into a melange that's wholly Texan and wholly danceable. It's gonna be a friggin' hoe-down. Check out videos from both bands below, and enter the ticket contest (winner selected randomly on 01/01/10) by commenting with YOUR NAME and CONTACT INFORMATION, EITHER AN EMAIL OR PHONE NUMBER! If you don’t give us a way to contact you, YOU CANNOT WIN.

The Gourds - Oh Sister

Brave Combo - Cumbia Veracruzana

Thanks as always to the Granada!!! Stay tuned for future giveaways and see you at The Gourds!

This past Saturday, while Eggs was raging Outside Lands, I traveled up to Dallas to dominate a fantasy football draft and see one of my favorite bands at Dallas' best venue – The Gourds at the Granada Theater. The Gourds were an early concert during my musically-formative years (@ the Gypsy Tea Room when I was in high school) and remain one of my favorite bands to this day, especially live. It was a reunion beyond just music as well: I enjoyed the show with a couple of good friends from high school and my little sister – who took the wonderful photos shown throughout this review.

Read about The Gourds @ the Granada and check out some photos and videos after the jump

Congrats to the winner, Adam Harden! Thanks to everyone who entered, and we'll see you all on Saturday!

We are giving away a pair of tickets to see The Gourds, Mama Sweet and The O's on Saturday, 8/29 at Dallas' Granada Theater. All you have to do to win is create an account on BOT (see top left) and leave a comment with your full name and e-mail address or telephone number. We will announce the winner on the website and through e-mail/text on Friday, so keep your eyes open. The Gourds always bring it live, and the Granada Theater is the best venue in Dallas. Don't miss your chance for a great free night of countrified fun! While you're busy entering the contest, check out this video of The Gourds covering Bobby Dylan's "Oh Sister" that Eggs took earlier this summer at Dosey Doe's.

Thanks mucho to The Granada for their generosity and for always being such a kick-ass venue! Can't wait for Saturday!

On Saturday, May 16th, our great day of countrified fun – which began with Steve Earle at Cactus Music – continued out at Dosey Doe’s Coffee House, the best 150-year-old barn in Houston in which to watch live music and grub down. No, I swear... there really is a 150-year-old barn out in Spring that quadruples as a music venue, bar, coffeehouse, and restaurant. From their website:

Our Dining/Live Music Hall is a 150 year old barn from Kentucky. Hand Hewn (cut by axe instead of saw). It is made entirely of 300 year old growth Oak and Birch. The process of taking the barn down, re-raising it, and finishing it out took two and one half years.... Adorned with all original signage, artwork, photos, general store wares, antiques, leaded glass windows, and milk glass (school) lights all from the late 1880’s to mid 1900’s.

The time they spent transporting and meticulously rebuilding the barn was absolutely worth it. The acoustics in this place are ear-gasmically incredible, not to mention the unique and friendly atmosphere. And the food alone makes the trip to Spring worth it, regardless of the live music going on. The Gourds are as alt-country as acts at Dosey Doe’s have gotten thus far, but hopefully bands as talented and untraditional as they are will be booked more often. The typical act at Dosey Doe’s is as straight country as a 150-yr old barn, though. Ninety percent of the crowd at Saturday’s show fit that bill too.

Read about the show, check out some pictures and watch some videos after the jump

Breakfast-approved shows in the Houston area:

Thu May 29
The Sword, Torche, and The Stinking Lizaveta at Rudyard's British Pub
Show starts at 9; Tickets are $10.

Marshall Tucker Band and Whiskey Myers at the Meridian
Show starts at 8; Tickets are $20 presale/$25 day-of.

Band Of Annuals and Program at Boondocks
Show starts at 10; Tickets are, well, you don't need tickets. It's FREE!!!

The Gourds at the Discovery Green Conservancy
Show starts at 6; This is free also!

Fri May 30
The Dresden Dolls and Smoosh at Warehouse Live
Show starts at 9; Tickets are $23.

Old 97's and Hayes Carll at the Meridian
Show starts at 9; Tickets are $20.

Colour Revolt, Snowden, and The Riff Tiffs at Walter's On Washington
Show starts at 9; Tickets are $10.

Sat May 31
Return To Forever at the Verizon Wireless Theater
Show starts at 8; Tickets are $55/65/75/85.

Big Head Todd & the Monsters at the Meridian
Show starts at 9; Tickets are $20.

Tue Jun 3
X and The Detroit Cobras at Warehouse Live
Show starts at 8; Tickets are $22.

Augustana, Paddy Casey, and Wild Sweet Orange at the Meridian
Show starts at 8; Tickets are $15.

Wed Jun 4
Matt Costa, Delta Spirit, and The Weather Underground at the Meridian
Show starts at 9; Tickets are $15.

Upcoming shows in the Houston area:

Thu Jan 24
Pharoahe Monch at Warehouse Live
Scion returns to Warehouse Live with another Live Metro event. Come on down and get your hip-hop on for free!
Show starts at 9:30; entry is free, but you must RSVP by 5pm Thursday.

Fri Jan 25
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings at Walter's On Washington
Having a bad day/week/month? Let Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings inject a little funk & soul into your step!
With support from the Ivan Milev Band; show starts at 8.

Plump at Dan Electro's
Celebrate the release of this funky Houston-based jam band's new CD!
With support from Endangered Sea Lions; show starts at 10.

Skyblue72 and Dertybird at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Perhaps you've seen that van marked 'Skyblue72' parked on Montrose, and you're wondering what exactly it's all about. Come find out at the Mucky Duck!
Show starts at 7:30; tickets are $15.

Sat Jan 26
Greyboy Allstars at Warehouse Live
Legendary supergroup of San Diego funkmeisters. Need we say more?
Show starts at 9; tickets are $20.


Road Trip of the Weekend: Austin

Fri Jan 25
Greyboy Allstars at La Zona Rosa
Show starts at 9; tickets are $28 in advance/$30 at the door.

Rogue Wave and Midnight Movies at The Parish
Doors open at 8; tickets are $14.

The Gourds at Antone's
Show starts at 9:30; tickets are $15.

Sat Jan 26
Keller Williams & the WMD's at La Zona Rosa
Show starts at 8; tickets are $30 in advance/$32 at the door.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings at Antone's
Doors open at 8; tickets were $15, but you're too late to get any, sucka!