In continuing our series of focusing on musicians whose tenure compares with our 20 plus years of publishing North of the Border, we visit with one musician who graced the cover some 17 years ago and another who is the longest continuous advertiser we have dating back to our first year of publication.

     Jim ‘Rod” Cappiello and Hugh Meyer front the Rod Brothers, which also features Stew Robertson on bass and Tadd Kelley on drums.

     Many musicians know Jim Rod as the owner of Texas Music Emporium, but he was an accomplished musician even before he opened the store. “The original Rod Brothers date back to 1979. The other Rod Brother was Jim Laporte and we billed ourselves as Jim and Jim, the Rod Brothers. Although we were based in Houston, we toured all over Texas playing at the Chelsea Street Pubs, which were mostly located in college towns. We did so well at the Chelsea Pub in Sharpstown Mall that we became the house band for several weeks. The legendary Rock 97 DJ, Moby was a big fan of ours and we had some great times with him. But when I opened the Texas Music Emporium in 1982, I no longer had the time to play music professionally. Also in 1992, I began drag racing professionally and I still go all over the country competing. Even though I remain very busy, in recent years Hugh talked me into getting involved with live music again and it has been a blast.”

     Hugh Meyer worked at the Texas Music Emporium through much of the 1990’s, but has always been in and out of the local music scene. “When I learned that you were going to do this story about us, I got out the North of the Border that I was on the cover, and noticed it was from 1993! My hair was both much longer and darker back then. I played with Bitter Creek for quite awhile and I was also in the band Dice in later years. Jim Rod and I also are playing in the band, Texas Twister, these days which also includes ‘Super Dave’ Holder, Rusty Bruce and Mike May, who all played with me in Bitter Creek and/or Dice.”

     Hugh has been killing bugs for Orkin Pest Control for over 10 years for his day job. The Texas Music Emporium is completing its 27th year of business. The Rod Brothers play a regular monthly gig at the Pour House. This month they play Friday, January 15 and have a special show at the Pour House on Saturday, January 30 to celebrate Jim Rod’s 55th birthday. The Rod Brothers will also start a regular monthly gig at Spring Tavern in 2010.