Hello friends, fans and groupies of the Dave & Peggy Traveling Good Time Show. We had a really busy month and heard a lot of music this past month.

     I want to start out with the news about Charlie Parker. In a news release, Mike “Lowboy”Luebner says:  “In case you haven’t heard, last Wednesday afternoon (May 26) Charlie and Gail were in a bike accident involving a deer. They and another couple had rode out to Hempstead, TX to check out the location where a private party was to be held last Sunday. The band was supposed to perform there. After checking it out, they left to get something to eat. On the way to the restaurant a deer suddenly bolted across the highway striking the front wheel of Charlie’s Harley. This caused him to lose control and sent Gail somersaulting through the air. Charlie stayed with the bike, laying it down on its side till he too left the bike and rolled. Both were taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Memorial Herman in Houston at the Texas Medical Center. Fortunately, both survived but Gail has road rash up and down both arms, buttocks, knees and a small amount on her face. She is stiff and sore but no broken bones or internal injuries. She was treated and released the same day. Charlie was not quite as fortunate because he had extensive road rash on the left side of his face along with shattered bones in his face. Yesterday he had facial reconstruction surgery and was released from the hospital this afternoon. He has a couple of weeks of recovery still and has quite a bit of pain because of the surgery. We’re just glad they’re back home and able to recuperate now! Keep them both in your thoughts and prayers. Last Saturday afternoon, Charlie & Gail were to be married at the Jailhouse Saloon along with Terry & Donna. Determined to keep their plans, Terry & Donna WERE married at the Jailhouse Saloon with Charlie & Gail getting married at the hospital!! So on a happier note, CONGRATULATIONS Charlie & Gail and Terry & Donna!!  May you both have much happier times ahead!!”

     We made several stops at the Sunday jam at The Jailhouse in Old Town Spring, hosted by The Charlie Parker Band. One set we saw was Charlie (back in action after his accident) on guitar/vocals, Larry Gamez on guitar/vocals, Lowboy on bass, and Jay Landry on drums. On a later visit we caught the usual culprits, Charlie, Lowboy and Scooter Green of Charlie Parker Band, and a set with Lectric Ed Fendley on guitar/vocals, M.T. on harp, Fireman Chris on drums, and 13 year old Bill Jernigan on bass. Up next was Tony Jamal doing a wicked set of rock & blues covers. Other players included Larry Gamez on guitar/vocals, Benny Stevens on guitar/vocals, Sonny Garrett on trumpet, Jay Landry on drums, and Kevin Reed on drums. These jams are turning into all-day events, and the only problem is that parking is hard to find. The only problem for us now is that it’s getting much warmer as Peg has a real problem with the heat.

     We made a couple of mini-vacations this month, starting with a trip to Bossier City with lunch in Woodville at the Pickett House (family-style fried chicken & all the fixins), a night at Sam’s Town Casino where Peg hit a few choice jackpots and we left with a pocket full of cash for a change. The next day we had lunch in Shreveport at Crescent Landing for their famous fried catfish & bean soup, played a few slots at El Dorado and headed south to Natchitoches for an afternoon of sight-seeing. Later we went south to Kinder for the night, and some slot action at Coushatta casino and some cajun food at Gumbeaux’s. The next day we spent sight-seeing in East Texas before heading home.

     The next Sunday we headed to Ray’s for the jam, but they weren’t having it. We made one more try the following week and no one was there, so we gave up. Does anybody know what happened to their Sunday jam?

     We stopped by Borski’s one Sunday when we saw a few cars there. They had been closed for some time and we were glad to see them open again. They had a sign saying it is now Roosters or Red Rooster, I’m not sure which one fits. There was a band playing, the Russell Knox Band from New Caney, and they were pretty good. I didn’t get a chance to talk to them as we left before they took a break, but I understand they have been playing around the area lately, including Lures Ice House and Vernon Wayne’s City Cafe in downtown Conroe for their Thursday afternoon concerts.

     Our last outing was last Sunday at the Wing Cafe & Daquiris on Louetta for Steve Krase & the In Crowd with Steve on harp/vocals, James Henry on guitar/vocals, Spare-Time Murray on bass and vocals, Paul Ramirez on drums/vocals and Alisha Pattillo on sax. With a cool mix of traditional down-home blues and contemporary blues, they rocked the joint with covers like Otis Rush’s “Checkin’ On My Baby”, Big Walter & The Thunderbirds’ “Pack Fair & Square” and Josh Turner’s “Way Down South”. We even got surprised by a visit from Mr. & Mrs. V from KPFT radio. With a nice stage for the band and plenty of cool air conditioning, it looks like this will be a good place to catch some live music in the future, and we wish them luck.

      On a sad note, we lost another musician last month. Veteran Austin bass player Nick Travis, who played for John Gaar & The Hopeful Souls, Lavelle White, Van Wilks, The Solid Senders, and The Vanguards, The Apaches of Paris passed away last month.  Our condolences go out to his wife, Melissa, and all his friends. May he rest in peace.

     And in another series of band jokes, Frank Brown of Red Dog & the Fleas sent me these one liners.

You’re know you’re a Real Musician when:

     13. When the bandleader or club owner wants to pay you in food or drinks, and you have $100,000 in school loans to pay off for that music degree.

     14. When the guy collecting money at the door for the band’s performance makes twice over the course of the evening what you do as one of the band members.

     15. When as a member of a blues band you no longer even pretend to smile when asked to play “Free Bird”.

    I’ll continue this series next issue. Stay safe and keep listening!

BLAST FROM THE PAST: I’m dedicating some space in each issue to a trip back in time and am talking about some of the great music we’ve seen since we started writing for NOB. I’ve asked you readers for some help. I’m thinking about doing a book on Houston music from the 1950’s to the 1970’s, and would like some of your memories about performers, bands and clubs of that era. Drop me an email at the address below or send me the info by mail. I would really like to get some photos of the clubs that were popular at that time. 

     I have received numerous phone calls, emails and comments at local clubs about this part of the column. Several people have sent posters, and photos and their memories to share. Keep the stuff coming, folks!

     A recent note from Guy Schwartz reminded us that The Zap Rhythm Band (Roger Tausz, Billy Block & Guy Schwartz) were the first band ever to perform outdoors by the street at the old Westheimer Art Festival at Houlihans #2 (in 1973) at the corner of Helena and Westheimer. We spent many an hour at the old Westheimer Art Festivals when they would close the street and thousands of people would jam the area, looking at art, listening to music and mainly people-watching the wildly-dressed (and nearly undressed) Montrose denizens who were more the show than the stage performers. We heard many new bands and performers, including a very young Carolyn Wunderland, Dr. Rockit and The Sisters of Mercy, Little Screaming Kenny and many more of the good old groups that are mostly still around today, as well as the Ooze brothers, doing their obscene best to shock people. Thanks for the memory, Guy!

     In the June, 1992 issue of NOB, I told the story of our trip to the Southwest Louisiana Music Festival in Plaisance, between Ville Platte and Opelousas. It’s a day long music fest of Zydeco, that cultural gumbo of Louisiana culture that combines Cajun, French and R&B music, mixed with some rock and country, to make the happiest music around. We were lucky to sit next to a family that invited us to sit under their shade and even shared food and drinks with us. The music started at 10 a.m. and went on until late at night. We were there from about noon to 10 p.m. and heard eight bands during that time, including Boo Zoo Chavis & The Magic Sounds, John Delafose & The Eunice Playboys, T-Black and The Zydeco Machine, Major Handy & The Wolf Couchon Band, Zydeco Force, Rockin’ Dopsie & the Cajun Twisters, and Willie Davis and the Zydeco Hitchhikers. Despite the heat, we had plenty of shade and lots of cold beverages, as well as some darn good Cajun food to keep us going. It was a full day of great music and happy people. 

     Well, folks, that’s about it for this month. If any of you need to get in touch with me, you can call me at 936-756-9699 or e-mail me at miller22@consolidated.net or mail me CD’s to review at P.O. Box 2393, Conroe, TX 77305. See you next month!