Bus to Brooklyn

Texas Music
A
lthough their name may suggest otherwise, Bus to
Brooklyn is in the often-sought-after position as one of Austin’s most progressive and thrilling alternative rock bands.
The four-piece outfit, fronted by local singer, songwriter
and rhythm guitarist Jesse Felder, has been making waves
throughout the city’s scene ever since coming together in February 2009.
Fans say their sound is comparable to that of Ben Harper, the Dave
Matthews Band, and The Black Crowes.
Now with a self-titled EP put together and gigs regularly scheduled at
Ace’s Lounge, Red Eyed Fly and San Marcos’ Grey Horse Saloon, Felder,
guitarist Spence Hughes, bassist Casey Haliburton and drummer Matt
Reynolds are ready to bring Bus to Brooklyn into the spotlight.
“We love gigging,” says Felder. “We just love playing live for people,
which is great because a lot of bands don’t do a whole lot of that. We just
have a great time getting out there and putting on a show for everybody.”
“Westy,” a music critic at BigWesternFlavor.blogspot.com, says that Bus
to Brooklyn “is a band confident enough to play their music the way they
hear it and not fussing over genre labels….This is radio-friendly modern
rock that displays far more musicianship and originality than anything
I've heard on modern radio lately.”
16 O
Country Lifestyle O November/December 2010
BUS TO BROOKYLN
From: Austin
Record: Connection
Next gig: November 21,
5 p.m., at Stubbs in Austin.
www.bustobrooklyn.com
PHotos courtesy of bustobrooklyn.com
Bus to Brooklyn
Texas Music
Blaine Gray
PHoto courtesy of blainegray.com / bottom photo courtesy of cashaley.com
Blaine Gray’s roots are in
country music, and he’s experienced playing dance halls and
music venues across the Lone Star
State. His 2003 debut CD, “Master of Illusion,” is packed with
music you can dance to under the
Texas stars. Blaine’s new 11-track,
self-titled CD is a celebration of
traditional sounds with elements
of today’s newest country sounds.
More importantly, it provides
a glimpse into what the future
holds for Texas country music. Early in his career Blaine
played the Texas Opry circuit for
two years, and started his own
band which played all the local
country music watering holes
in the DFW area. His deep,
warm voice has the usual twang
used by other artists like George
Strait. But his songs are lighter,
more modern and easy to dance
to. The track “The Corner of
Gigs Throughout Texas
Nov. 20 Roger Creager, Gruene Hall, 9 p.m.
Nov. 20 Jackson Parten, Tin Roof Steak House,
8:30 p.m.
Nov. 20 Aaron Watson, Swiss Alp Hall
(Schulenberg), 10 p.m.
Nov. 26 Reckless Kelly, Gruene Hall, 8 p.m.
BLAINE GRAY
From: Fort Worth
Age: 35
Album: Blaine Gray
www.blainegray.com
Love and Life” on his newest
CD exemplifies this sound by
using staples such as the slide
guitar in a melodic style.
Logon www.blainegray.com
for more information about “the
Face of Traditional Country.”
Cas Haley
Within two years, Cas Haley
went from being a dishwasher in
Dallas to becoming an overnight
sensation, claiming the runner-up
spot on the second season of the
popular “America’s Got Talent”
TV show in 2007. His self-titled
album took position No. 8 on
Billboard’s chart of the best-selling
reggae albums in 2008.
In September Haley released
his first major label-backed album
which debuted at the No. 2 slot on
Billboard’s list of the top 200 bestselling reggae albums. And now he’s
coming off a three-month U.S. and
European tour. Life is good for this
talented musician.
“Connection” is a reflection
of Haley’s musical influences, full
of reggae and soul sounds woven
throughout the record. His mother,
a musician, played Bob Marley
records when he was young, and
Haley embraced the ska culture
in the 1990s . He even moved to
NOVEMBER
Nov. 26 Bart Crow Band, Floore's Country Store,
7 p.m.
Nov. 26 Monte Montgomery, The Auslander, 9 p.m.
Nov. 27 Bleu Edmondson, Floore's Country Store,
7 p.m.
Nov. 27 JR Castro Songwriters Swap, Tin Roof
Steak House, 8:30 p.m.
DECEMBER
Dec. 1 Willie Nelson, Gruene Hall, 7 p.m.
Dec. 3 Gary P Nunn, Floore's Country Store, 7 p.m.
Dec. 3 Bob Schneider, Gruene Hall, 8 p.m.
Dec. 4 Kyle Park, Floore's Country Store, 7 p.m.
Dec. 4 Wade Bowen, Billy Bob’s Texas, 10:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 Brandon Rhyder, Cheatham St. Warehouse, 11 p.m.
Dec. 10 Stoney Larue, Billy Bob’s Texas, 10:30 p.m.
Dec. 11 Pat Green, Billy Bobs Texas, 10:30 p.m.
Dec. 11 Cory Morrow, Gruene Hall, 9 p.m.
CAS HALEY
From: Paris
Age: 29
Album: Connection
www.cashaley.com
Dallas and toured with Woodbelly.
After his success on “America’s
Got Talent,” Haley rejected
mainstream labels and signed
with Easy Star, a U.S.-based,
independent reggae label.
For more information logon
www.cashaley.com.
Dec. 18 Randy Rogers, Billy Bob’s Texas, 10:30 p.m.
Dec. 27 Jason Boland and The Stragglers,
Coupland Dancehall, 8 p.m.
Dec. 28 Cory Morrow, The Auslander, 9 p.m.
Dec. 31 Charlie Robison, Gruene Hall, 8 p.m.
Dec. 31 Two Tons of Steel New Years Eve Party, Floore's Country Store, 7 p.m.
JANUARY
Jan. 1 Cody Johnson Band, Luckenbach, 9 p.m.
November/December 2010 O
Country Lifestyle O 17