As most of you know, my dear friend Mit Truax has been battling colon cancer for the past six months or more. As soon as he recovered from surgery, they started chemo-therapy. He just completed his last round of chemotherapy and is currently cancer free! Yeah! His friends, family and associates have arranged to host a Benefit Concert on Sunday May 4th, 2008. We're raising money to help defray his astronomical medical expenses.

For all my Houston friends, come on out for a day full of the Best Blues and Rock venue in town! I can assure you it will be a good time. We have a great line up of Live Music all day, 2 Barbeque Pits for Fajita tacos and Texas Scorpions (jalapenos), silent auctions, door prizes, 50/50 drawing, great people and tons of fun.

For those of you out of town, let me know if you are interested in purchasing any tickets for the following drawings. You don't have to be present to win.

First Door Prize - There will be 5 drawings and 5 prizes. The prizes include

1. Refurbished Laptop
2. Mountain Bike
3. Takamini guitar
4. DVD Recorder
5. Steve and Barry Gift Certificate

Tickets are $5 each. Only 1,000 printed.

Second Door Prize - Only one grand prize of Two Round trip Southwest Airline Tickets to any where in the continental U.S.

Tickets are $15 each or 2 for $25. Only 1,000 printed.

Sunday May 4th, 2008
The Howling Coyote Best Blues House in town!
6536 F.M. 1960 West
Houston, TX

Thanks,
Shannon G.

Kelly's Lot and GoGirlsMusic.com Present "Hep C Aware"

Friday April 18 7pm -1:30am
Last Concert Cafe
1403 Nance St., Houston, Texas
$5 cover All Ages

A night of music, info and testing for Hepatitis C. Kelly’s Lot, HepCAware.org and GoGirlsMusic will present an evening of live music and Hepatitis C info on Friday, April 18, 7pm -1:30am at Last Concert Cafe, 1403 Nance St. Houston, TX. There will be live music by Kelly’s Lot, OSIRUS, The Snake Charmers, Mary Noel & the Blackwood Co., Christie Glaser, Hidden Agenda, P.J. Flowers, EVRiM, 71 Stars, Kimberly Jason and 3 Kisses. Hepatitis C screening and testing will be available. All funds raised will go to The Texas Liver Coalition. More info at www.TexasLiver.org or call 1-800-GO-LIVER

Kelly's Lot, which was honored with the “Best Blues Band” award by Rock City News and named one of the Top 13 bands in the U.S. by Independent Songwriter Magazine, has been involved in raising awareness of Hepatitis C since 2000 when lead singer Kelly Z learned her friend Gioia Siciliano had been diagnosed with the virus. That year, Kelly and Gioia worked with the American Liver Foundation (ALF) to create a marathon of music on the Santa Monica pier and educate as many people as they could. The event was a success but Gioia lost her battle months later after receiving a liver transplant. To honor their friend, Kelly’s Lot became the spokesband for the ALF and created a tour that brought them on the road from Los Angeles to Boston to educate people about this disease. At the end of the tour Kelly ran the Boston marathon and performed afterwards with her band to heighten the awareness. It worked and in 2002, with the ALF as their official charity, Kelly partnered with GoGirlsMusic.com in creating events across the country to raise money and more awareness of hepatitis C.

In 2004 Kelly formed HepCAware.org and began working again with GoGirlsMusic on a yearly basis for their annual Invasion of the GoGirls in Austin, TX. Through the years Kelly and Madalyn from GoGirls have met many who were suffering with Hep C, which has inspired them to continue the journey of raising awareness through music. They will be working together in October 2008 to kick off another series of events across the country. Producer of an annual telethon to raise both funds and awareness, Kelly Z has teamed up with a variety of Hep C organizations including The Texas Liver Coalition who will receive the money raised on the 18th.

GoGirlsMusic.com's mission is to promote, support and empower indie women in music. Madalyn Sklar started the organization in 1996 with a vision of bringing together independent women musicians from around the country. Twelve years later, GoGirlsMusic.com produces the GoGirlsMusic Fest, Invasion of the GoGirls, Battle of the GoGirls and more. In the last eight years, Sklar has spearheaded well over 100 benefit showcases for various organizations including the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls, MusiCares, American Liver Foundation and Nicole Brown Charitable Foundation.

There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. It is a virus that attacks the liver and is spread by blood-to-blood contact. Although 1 in 50 Americans have the disease, 2 out of 3 do not know it. Persons who most at risk include those who have received blood, blood products or an organ transplant prior to 1992; those who have been involved with drug abuse (either injecting or snorting); those who have been patients of dialysis, those who have been tattooed or pierced, shared personal care items, been incarcerated or have been a war veteran (especially Vietnam).

Musical performances by Kelly’s Lot, OSIRUS, The Snake Charmers, Mary Noel & the Blackwood Co., Christie Glaser, Hidden Agenda, P.J. Flowers, EVRiM, 71 Stars, Kimberly Jason and 3 Kisses.

For more information call 310-377-2527.

SAN ANTONIO LANDS ROOTS MUSIC AWARDS

The city of San Antonio, Texas has been selected to host the annual Roots Music Awards. The annual event will be held in conjunction with the Roots Music Association’s upcoming Radio Seminar, Music Conference and Festival that will be held June 26-29, 2008. The event is expected to bring hundreds of radio stations, networks, and independent artists to the Hill Country of Texas.

The Alzafar Shrine organization has finalized negotiations as the event’s major sponsor to host the event at their premier convention center located conveniently on Loop 1604 in San Antonio and will be the event’s major benefactor for their local Shrine community services.

The event, which has been branded as Music United ’08, will be presenting three days of music on five stages with artists encompassing almost every genre of music. In addition, the conference portion of the event will host educational panels geared towards music industry professionals and artists.

Awards will be presented to radio stations, artists and industry professionals in recognition of their accomplishments and contributions to the music industry over the past year. The event will be open to the public and in addition to three days of dynamic entertainment there will also be exhibits by educational and technological entities that will present information and services essential to the development and support of the independent artists.

A formal announcement is expected to be made with press conferences and media events beginning in early April.

For more information contact the Roots Music Association at: rma@rootsmusicassociation.org or 512-667-6466.

More information on the RMA can be found at the organization’s official website: www.rootsmusicassociation.org.

“Bobcat Benefit” at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar - April 11 and 12, 2008

Bob "Bobcat" Edwards (owner of Dan Electro's Guitar Bar) fell off a ladder sustaining serious injuries that required a hospital stay and an extensive rehabilitation program... Like so many of us in the music industry, Bob does not have hospitalization insurance and the bills are piling up… Many local musicians are donating their time to offset some of Bob’s medical expenses… Bob Edwards has worked hard to support the local music scene in Houston and this is a good time for all of us to show our appreciation for his contributions to the local scene...

Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
1031 E. 24th Houston, TX 77009
Info: 713-862-8707
Minimum donation of $10
*all times and artists are subject to change without notice

Fri, April 11 - 6pm door – music starts at 7pm

Wil Van Winkle and the Insomniacs (7-7:45)
Stateside Stereo (8-8:45)
SkyBlue72 (9:00-9:45)
Romeo Dogs (10:00 – 10:45)
Vatos Locos (11:00 – 11:45)
The Hates (12:00 – 12:45)
The Drunks (1 – 1:45am)

Sat, April 12 - 5pm door – music starts at 6pm

LL Cooper (6-6:45)
The Classic Rock Band (7-7:45)
LaSed (8-8:45)
Stamen (9-9:45pm)
PJ Flowers (10-10:45)
Fondue Monks (11:00-11:45)
YokoMono (12-12:45)
D’bo’s Chikin’ Coupe (1-1:45am)

Come one come all!! It's free and it's fun for the whole family!! March 22 12pm

In the tradition of the old High Volume Music (CD shop) "old school" block parties from back in the day, the Spring Break Alternative Arts & Music Festival will be held on the grounds of The Plex Multi Media Studios in the heart of Sunnyside, Houston- Texas on March 22, 2008.

Live music will take place throughout the entire day. The festival will present performances from Houston and the surrounding region's best up and coming urban artists, including hip hop, R&B, blues, gospel, reggae, soul, reggaeton, Latin hip hop, spoken word, jazz, acoustic and neo soul artists. This is a family event!

With live Music of 97.9 DJ G.T. of The Boxx - Beat The Trunk Up (HipHop)
Collective Hallucination(Soul/Funk)
PLD (Reggaeton)
Rob Quest of Devin the Dude/Coughee Brothers (HipHop/Rap)
Loretta Gurnell Williams (Singing of the Gospel)
Hosted by HBO Def Comedy Jam Veteran ALI

8408 Colonial Lane Houston Tx 77051
www.highvolumemusic.com for theinformation

SOUTH BY DUE EAST 2008 MARCH 14-17

FRI & MON-7pm SAT/SUN-3pm
Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
1031 East 24th Street
in the Houston Heights

Houston, Texas, USA - Celebrating it's 5th year in it's current format, SOUTH BY DUE EAST 2008 will again present over 80 original (mostly local) artists over four days at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar in the Houston Heights, as the Sirius Hippies Production team led by Guy Schwartz & MArlo Blue shoot video and record multi-track audio on two stages to create their fourth SOUTH BY DUE EAST feature length film aimed at staking the claim for H-Town musical artists and our diverse musical scene.

It’s another year of great artists performing at Houston’s best kept secret-four-day-tour of our city's diverse and complicated music scene – All for free and in one place!

At SOUTH BY DUE EAST, the scheduling is purposely diverse. Fans coming to hear their faves will be exposed to unfamiliar artists and styles in the same scheduling blocks. Hard rockers Adrian & The Sickness will perform in the same hour as The Texas Dub Crusaders and country Telecaster-picker Chad Ware.

There's a blues-rock block on Saturday night, an Americana block on Sunday afternoon (at the same time as a small worldbeat block on the other stage). Hiphop will reign late Monday night as will rock on Friday! New York and LA bands shine on Sunday with our locals!

New for 2008 - we’re adding a South By Due East comedy showcase hosted by local Improv talent Al B (each night at 9pm), and expanding the 'Teach the Band a Song' segment, with talents as diverse as Americana Songstress Tressie Seegers from Tyler, soulman Brad Cordle from Las Vegas and Houston's own rapper Twank Star (Sat/Sun eves).

Schedules and artists are at
www.southbydueeast.com or myspace.com/southbydueeast

Can’t make it to any of the live music event? No worries…

STREAMING
This year we’re streaming live from the event on www.stickam.com/profile/bluesguy , so even hometown fans of our visiting bands (like Fruet & Os Cozinheiros from Brasil, or Niemo from Paris, France) can watch live from their comfy chairs back home.

ONLINE VIDEO
Film from this year’s festivities (and past years) is and will be posted at www.southbydueeast.com once mixed and edited.
So now it can be South By Due East every day of the year!

SOUTH BY DUE EAST began as a protest concert - pointed at SXSW's lack of inclusion for our varied Houston artists in 2003. Beginning in 2004, we limited our focus to the creation of media - to be used by the artists and producers to promote & archive themselves and the Houston music scene. Participating venues in our past include earthwire.net & Super Happy Fun Land.

Guy Schwartz (Creative director, Co-Producer) is a Houston musician, songwriter, film-maker and bandleader. His band, New Jack Hippies, will appear at SOUTH BY DUE EAST 2008 as a featured artist, as well as serving as the house band for a half-dozen artists participating in the popular 'TEACH THE BAND A SONG' segments for 'Hippies.TV'. Schwartz' new CD (his 42nd), 'Chameleon v3.5' will be released at SOUTH BY DUE EAST 2008 and available at leading online music sources including CDbaby.com, i-Tunes, bestbuy.com & Wal-mart.com.

Marlo Blue (Producer, Co-Director) is a Houston digital artist, producer, voice-actress, and videographer, who's current projects include 'Hippies.TV' and the new HMS-TV weekly series, 'South By Due East' (Comcast Cable Channel 17 - Friday 10pm beginning in May 2008). Ms. Blue is also the anchor for the KPFT-FM90.1 local news at 5pm.

-Guy Schwartz & MArlo Blue
SOUTH BY DUE EAST 2008
Hippies.TV
www.hippies.tv
www.southbydueeast.com
Box 31324, Houston, Texas, USA 77231
MArlo 001-832-439-9517
Guy 001-832-622-2295

Nightmare Records, Blastzone Entertainment Group, and Chavis Records have teamed up to form a new partnership, the Tri-Label Group.

The Tri-Label Group intends to bring you four incredible days of music entertainment on the second stage (North) at this year's major U.S. rock festival, Rocklahoma.

Rocklahoma is set to take place July 10-13, 2008 in Pryor, OK. This highly touted event triumphs all others in the U.S. Rocklahoma will bring you four days of nonstop, festive, 1980s-era rock music. Last year, the rock n' roll event brought over 30,000 fans from all over the globe to see the best in rock entertainment.

As the headliners are preparing to perform on the main stage, you will enjoy the unbelievable line-up Tri-Label Group has put together for you on the second stage (North)!! Tri-Label Group is preparing to indulge you with a massive amount of heavy talent destined to rock your world; featuring not only a mixed array of top notched musical acts from each of the three labels, but additional high profile talent that will provide you with raging rock and metallic energy.

The confirmed acts for second stage (North) thus far are as follows (in alphabetical order):

ASPHALT VALENTINE
BONESHAKER
DANGEROUS INC.
DEATHRIDERS (feat. ex-ANTHRAX singer Neil Turbin)
GODS OF KANSAS
KRUCIBLE (LANCE KING)
LIPSTICK MAGAZINE
MINDFLOW
ORDER OF NINE
POWND
SACRED DAWN
SHADOWSIDE
THE JACKYLS
WARMACHINE

Rocklahoma 2007 was the largest rock festival of its type featuring bands from the Eighties. Attendance came from all fifty states, every province in Canada, every country in Europe. A total of thirty-two different countries from throughout the world representing every continent with the exception of Antarctica.

Located four miles north of Pryor, OK, off Highway 69, the Catch the Fever facilities include over 6,200 assigned and numbered seats, as well as general admission on the lawn for over 50,000 people. The grounds also feature over 4,000 campsites, on-site parking, bathroom facilities, a convenience store, and overnight security provided by Mayes County Sheriff's Department. Rocklahoma also has a Picture Alley that allows anyone in attendance to approach the stage during any performance and take photographs of a favorite artist at close range.

There are a limited amount of V.I.P. tickets available to Rocklahoma, which includes free beer and food for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There is a special pre-party on Thursday, July 10 for all three-day and V.I.P. ticket holders at no extra cost. Through February 29, prices for V.I.P. tickets are $325 and three day general admission tickets for just $110. They can be purchased by calling toll free 866-310-2288 or click here to buy online.

You may or may not be aware of the fact that Bob "Bobcat" Edward's (owner of Dan Electro's Guitar Bar) fell off a ladder while changing the Dan Electro's marquee... He sustained serious injuries that required a hospital stay and he is currently in an extensive rehabilitation program... Like so many of us in the music industry, Bob does not have hospitalization insurance and the bills are piling up...

I am organizing a benefit weekend at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar to raise money to offset some of Bob's medical expenses... Bob Edwards has worked hard to support the local music scene in Houston and this is a good time for all of us, in the music industry, to show our appreciation for his contribution to local music...

"The Bobcat Benefit" is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 11th and 12th, 2008...

Any bands interested in performing or Any individuals interested in volunteering time to help with the organization of the benefit, please contact Chris Harkness…

email: chris@mm55productions.com

pho: 832-651-1861

SugarHill mourns the loss of Calvin Owens

(HOUSTON, TEXAS) - February 21, 2008 -Iconic trumpet player and former B.B. King Band Leader and arranger, Calvin Owens died early this morning.

A native Houstonian, Calvin "The Maestro" Owens' recording credits included work as an artist and producer for Memphis' Kiondict Recording Company, A & R director/studio musician for Peacock Recording Company locally and as an arranger for A & M Recording Studios in Los Angeles. He founded the Sawdust Alley Preservation Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to blues preservation.

Owens was a fixture at SugarHill Studios, beginning with the Gold Star era recording in the late 40s with Blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins and in the early 60s with singer Joe Hinton. He returned to the studios in 1994 recording parts of "True Blue", and would record and mix another eight Blues albums, two Spanish-language albums and one Hip-Hop album with Chief Engineer and longtime friend, Andy Bradley. Those albums included: "The House is Burnin'" (2002) a remixed/remastered version of "True Blue" (2005), "Keeping the Big Band Blues ALIVE" (2005), "I Ain't Gonna Be Yo' Dog No Mo'" (2006), his Hip-Hop album "Say Boy How You Do That Thing?" (2006), "Es Un Amor Legendario" (2006) and remixing "That's Your Booty"(release pending). In 2007 he released "Houston is the Place to Be" and his final Spanish-language album, "La Mujer Que Canta Blues" featuring Evelyn Rubio.

Owens arranged and played on countless releases including Trudy Lynn's "I'm Still Here" (2006) and Johnny Bush's acclaimed 2007 release, "Kashmere Gardens Mud". He also arranged two tracks and played on three tracks of the forthcoming Johnny Bush album featuring Willie Nelson and Ray Price. Owens was heralded by many and worked with musicians spanning a spectrum of genres. Among his recordings you will find tracks featuring Shelly Carrol, Otis Clay, Archie Bell, Arnett Cobb, B.B. King, Conrad Johnson, David "Fathead" Newman, Marvin Sparks, Keith Vivens, Barbara Lynn, Pete Mayes, and Rue Davis.

Andy Bradley said, "My heart is heavy with the loss of one of the most talented musicians and a very dear friend. Personally and professionally, I will miss his enigmatic spirit. May his memory live on through his resplendent music."

http://sugarhillstudios.com

Slivered’s new LP, ' thought you could soar ' will be out this month.

The CD Release Party is scheduled at Rudyard’s (2010 Waugh Drive. Houston, TX. 77006) on Friday, February 29th, 2008.

Live music will be performed by Slivered, Treehouse Project, and Hearts Fail (from San Antonio).
Price of admission: $8 Price of CD: $8 - at this show only!

Sponsored by Sinkhole Productions (www.sinkholeproduct ions.com / www.myspace. com/sinkholeprod uctions) The new Life Flight EP can also be purchased at the show, on-line or at various record stores for $8. Send an email to info@sinkholeproduc tions.com for locations and additional details. We will have Slivered t-shirts and stickers at the event as well.

For more information about Slivered, please visit www.slivered. com The site features streaming audio, photos, concert dates, new merchandise and updated information about the band.

LAST CONCERT CAFÉ to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Houston/ Galveston

HOUSTON, TX – Come out to the Last Concert Café on Saturday, February 9th, and enjoy food, fun, and excellent live music, all to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/ Galveston, Inc.

Bands The Black Math Experiment, Live Oak Decline, and Mo Pair and the Ugi Mooks, will be playing free to benefit the charity, and as a memorial to honor and celebrate 3-month old Aubrie Kristine Acosta who died of SIDS on January 12th. The concert was put together by Acosta's grandparents, Brian and Amber Trafton owners of Wounded Rabbit Productions, to celebrate the great love and joy she gave to the world during her short stay on earth.

Ronald McDonald House Charities provided comfort and support to the family during their time in the hospital, and now the family would like to give back to the charity by inviting you to this very special benefit. Admission is $10 at the door. You will be able to enjoy the bands throughout the night starting at 8 pm. Food and drinks are extra, but the proceeds from the admission go directly to the charity. Last Concert Cafe, one of Houston's oldest (and definitely friendliest) live-music venues continues to serve up great music and delicious Tex-Mex since 1949. LCC is known as the best place to catch jam bands in Houston, but also features funk, bluegrass, rock, blues, world beat, rockabilly and more!

On February 9th, the entertainment will include bands from various backgrounds starting with Houston's own The Black Math Experiment. Since their inception in 2004, they've become one of the state's leading live acts, often compared to DEVO and The Pixies. They became famous for the shout-along sarcas-hymn "You Cannot Kill David Arquette" whose subject met the song with great amusement, and sent the band a box of gourmet cupcakes in thanks. Also playing is creative rock band Live Oak Decline, celebrating the 2007 release of their first full-length album HELLO WORLD, which has been acclaimed as a vintage perspective on modern times channeling the spirits of Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and David Bowie. Additionally, one of Austin's more interesting bands, Mo Pair and The Ugi Mooks, will be groovin' some bluegrass and folk music all for your entertainment.

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Houston/Galveston, Inc. is dedicated to improving the health and well being of children in Houston and Galveston. RMHC does this by creating, finding or supporting various local programs, including: The Ronald McDonald® Care Mobile Scholarships to local graduating high school seniors Grants to worthy non-profit organizations also dedicated to the mission of RMHC of Greater Houston/ Galveston The Ronald McDonald Houses® of Houston and Galveston and the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms®

For more information please visit our website rmhc-houston-galveston.org

HBC Winterfest 08’

Saturday February 9th 2008
Meridian 1503 Chartres
713-2271717

The Houston Band Coalition is a non profit 501.c.3 organization of enthusiast, made up of diverse but like minded people who hope to merge our ideas and efforts in order to establish, preserve and progress the gift of local music in our area. Please support us in our efforts to unite the local music scene and bring attention to Houston’s premier musical talent along with industry professionals and a supportive network of fans. Help us as we attempt to bring national attention to our burgeoning musical scene and brand of music.

Performances by:
Swinging Teresa
Arride
Savage Evolution
The Fight Scene
She Craves
Deus-Machina

Festivities and Sponsorship provided by:
ABC Body Art
Twizted Mad Graphix Design
Double Dragon Tattoos
Pro-Mark Drumsticks
My City Rocks
Skullsessions Studios

The Houston Band Coalition appreciates your continued support!

HBCLIVE.COM

For information and to enter ISC, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com