2 • Action Magazine, September 2011

• 2 • Action Magazine, September 2011

Action Magazine, September 2011• 3 •

Trashgrass at Specht’s with Whiskey Shivers They move faster thangrasshoppers in a chickenpen, and the energy levelis off the charts. Meet Whiskey Shivers,music fans, and be pre-pared for some “trash-grass” under the stars onthe patio at historicSpecht’s Store, Restau-rant and Saloon in the hillsof Bulverde. The group’snext show at Specht’s isset for September 17. Bluegrass? No way.And it’s not a reincarna-tion of The Bad Livers, al-though there is a distinctresemblance. “You have got to seeand hear this band if youare in the market for a funtime,” says Specht’s ownerKate Mangold. “They are ahilarious riot. And one ofthe most entertaininggroups we have ever hadat Specht’s.” That’s saying a lot, formany of us recall vocalistand banjo player DannyBarnes and his Bad Liversgroup making its San An-

tonio area debut atSpecht’s a number ofyears ago. The Bad Livers, mostof us know, went on to na-tional recognition and fa-vorable reviews in suchjournals as Rolling StoneMagazine. Whiskey Shivers has abanjo player in its midst,as well, but it is the driv-ing upright bass licks ofWhiskey’s Andrew VanVoorhees that recalls thedriving rhythms of the BadLivers’ Mark Ruben. But this is aboutAustin’s Whiskey Shivers,a group of raucous and ir-reverent young bucks whoseem bent on bending tra-ditional bluegrass musiclike, in their own words,“traffic signs in a hurri-cane.” Bobby Fitzgerald--leadvocals, fiddle, and har-monica--says WhiskeyShivers will again be per-forming at Specht’s onSeptember 17. When we first encoun-

tered the band at Specht’slast month, Fitzgerald andguitarist Jeff Hortilosawere both working bare-foot, while bassist VanVoorhees was clad insneakers. Evan Heidtmann, thebanjo player, and wash-board strummer JoeDeuce were not with theprimary trio at theSpecht’s gig, althoughthey are expected for sub-sequent shows. The Whiskey Shiverstout sheet describes theband thusly: “When a person thinksof bluegrass music, theygenerally think of thestereotypical Appalachianporch music. A jug beingpassed, generations of oldsongs being sung. Clean,twangy and world-wearyAustin’s Whiskey Shivershave taken tradition andtwisted and bent it liketraffic signs in a hurri-cane.” Fiddler Fitzgerald de-scribes the music as

“trashgrass with a blue-grass feel,” or stringedpunk that would probablymake Ray Benson smile. Andrew Van Voorhees,the upright bassist whoalso acts as the group’sbooking agent, explainsthe band’s catchy mon-icker thusly: “Whiskey being our al-coholic drink of choice,and that good, shiveryafter effect that comesafter it being the preferredfeeling of most, we de-cided to call the bandWhiskey Shivers. It’s aband designed to makepeople feel good.” Monster Hawg was thegroup’s first CD, a collec-tion of original songswhich includes the title cutWhiskey Shivers, CutBank’, and Buy Your

Horse. The tree tradition-als on the record includeRollin’ In My SweetBaby’s Arms, and LeonRussell himself couldn’tdo it much better.

The Shivers just released their second record withan August 30 blowout party at the Scoot Inn in Austinwith fellow folk weirdists Hello Wheels and The BakerFamily. Whiskey Shivers also performs a lot with anAustin group called White Ghost Shivers (no relation). The new CD is titled Batholith. It is a full-length albumproduced by Austin’s Matt Simon (Voxtrot, Belaire, andThe Black). And with this work on the market, WhiskeyShivers will embark on a tour of the Southeastern United

Cont.on page 14

Whiskey Shivers band members are L-R) Andrew VanVorhees, Bobby Fitzgerald,and Jeff Hortilosa.


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Kinky Friedman is out of politics for good and for all time, but the TexasKinkster still has a few live rounds in his barrel.

“I have a better head of hair than Rick Perry,” Friedman said. “It’s just not ina place I can show you.”

But this isn’t about Kinky, the irrepressible Texas Jew Boy from the hamletof Duckworth in Kerr County. This is about his old political foe, Governor Rick Perry,a bigger and sadder joke than any gut-honker ever to come out of Friedman’s tricksack.

Rick Perry for President of the United States.Excuse me while I wipe the puke off my boot toes.We had the seven-year drought and the screw worm fly when I was growing

up in Kimble County. Drought and Rick Perry

Now we have a new drought and Rick Perry. The Aggies at Texas A&M got rid of the hated screw worm fly by air dropping

cannisters of sterile flies all over the Hill Country and West Texas. Then A&M gaveus Tricky Ricky, an Aggie cheerleader who now claims responsibility for a high em-ployment rate in Texas which he had nothing to do with.

The late Molly Ivins called Perry Governor Good Hair.Bill Clinton labeled him a good looking rascal.Texas school teachers, who were dropped in the grease by Perry promises

which never materialized, call him a fraud.In announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president,

Perry fooled no one. His big ego trip started long ago, and the farm yokel from PaintCreek is now wearing his transparent suit on the big stage, showing his ass at everopportunity, and with his garrulous wife (that’s my husband Rick) Anita at his side.

Pundits seem attractedPolitical pundits on the national scene, bored and tired of the straight-laced

Republican rhetoric we have come to expect, seem to be taken with Governor Rickand his stupid shock comments.

His Perryisms are geared to attract attention and get Perry’s name out therein a Republican primary which lacks luster and a candidate who has the muscle toshoot Democratic President Barack Obama out of the saddle.

For the Washington hack crew, Rick Perry is a curious new toy on the pres-idential playing field, a helmet-hairedupstart with the temerity to question Obama’s patriotism and the motives of the headof the federal reserve.

It’s all cheap popgun shit on Perry’s part, a calculated barrage of inane andinsane remarks, none of which are befitting of someone seriously campaigning forthe presidency of the United States of America.

The ‘treason’ wordIn New Hampshire, Perry said Ben Bernanke, chairman of the federal re-

serve, would be committing treason should he print more money to help PresidentObama.

This intemperate crack drew the ire of many Republicans, including CarlRove, the former advisor to President George W. Bush.

“You don’t accuse the president of the federal reserve of being a traitor tohis country,” Rove said in an interview with Fox Television. “And suggesting that wetreat him pretty ugly in Texas--you know, that is not again a presidential statement.”

President Obama played it cool after our great leader from Texas questionedhis devotion to the country. Perry was in the U.S. Air Force, while Obama was neverin the military, and when some stupid Washington reporter asked Perry if he thoughtObama loves his country, Governor Rick responded like the classless jerk that he is.

“I dunno,” he told the classless jerk reporter who hatched the asinine ques-tion. “You need to ask him. You’re a good reporter, go ask him.”

Questions global warmingOther outlandish comments by Perry include his statement in New Hamp-

shire that scientists are part of an international climate change conspiracy. And he told a 9-year-old New Hampshire boy that Texas schools teach cre-

ationism.Obama handled Texas Rick like an errant school boy with diarrhea of the

mouth.In an interview with Wolf Blitzer of CNN, Obama said, “I think that everybody

who runs for president, it probably takes them a little bit of time before they start re-alizing that this isn’t like running for governor or running for senator or running forCongress. And you’ve got to be a little more careful about what you say.”

Strong hoss neededThe Republicans need a strong hoss to unseat Obama, a very real possibility

in view of the president’s low approval rating among potential voters. Perry’s intemperate mouthings prompted GOP political consultant Alex

Castellanos to say: “I think we saw all of Rick Perry’s assets and liabilities on dis-play.”

Castellanos, a senior strategist for Mitt Romney 2008 campaign , suggestedRomney and the other GOP candidates are waiting to see whether the Texan’s mouthsinks his campaign before they have to take him on.

Of Perry, Castellanos asked, “Does he tend to hold the six-gun backwardswhen he is shooting somebody?”

Maybe. Coyotes beware

And, then again, cowboy Rick might be shooting a coyote when he aims atanything tangible.

But there is a real frightening aspect to all of this. Texas voters were taken in by this political tinhorn whose ego keeps him

twirling like a human barber pole. And the national press corps is extremely vulner-able to the Lonesome Dove syndrome of a genuine Texas candidate in hand-madeLuccheses who struts and swaggers like a miniature John Wayne.

Rick Perry is no John Wayne.The public needs to know, as well, and remember that Rick Perry was no

bruising fullback in the mold of John David Crow when he attended Texas A&M.Perry was a cheerleader. And I ain’t got anything against cheerleaders. It’s

Rick Perry I don’t like.


Neka Scarbrough Jenkins with her charcoal drawing of guitarlegend Jimi Hendrix. Photo by Neka’s husband, Bruce Jenkins.

My artist friend Neka isa Texas talent and alocal phenomenon By Sam Kindrick This is about Neka: Artist. Dancer. Teacher.Professional photographer.Mother.Vocalist. Bass guitarplayer. Band and concertpromoter. And one of themost talented persons Ihave ever known. Neka Scarbrough Jenk-ins should have been onthe cover of Action Maga-zine years ago. She is anamazing individual, andone I have known for over30 years. You don’t have to look inAustin, New York, orNashville to find a Neka.There ain’t but one, andshe lives right here in SanAntonio. “That you would write anarticle about me...well, Iguess I’m just flabber-

gasted and bowled overwith a sense of both grati-tude and humility,” Nekasaid. “It is an honor and agift from a dear friend of somany years.” There are givers andthere are takers in this oldworld. Neka is a giver, andas I write this article, thereis a big pen and ink drawingabove my computer whichNeka once did of RedSmith, the world’s roughestlooking cowboy who had ahand in my upbringing onthe South Llano River nearJunction. I believe Neka did theSmith drawing during ashort period of time whenshe helped with ActionMagazine advertisingsales. Credit Patty Lou Reisz

with the original idea of aNeka cover story, some-thing I should have comeup with years ago. Why Neka? Why notNeka? She was a ballerina withthe San Antonio BalletCompany after studyingboth art and music at SanAntonio College and theUniversity of Texas atAustin, and she taught bal-let for the City of San Anto-nio before moving on intothe city’s once-boomingdisco scene. Who could forget Nekafrom those disco dayswhen she “tripped the lightfantastic” with dance part-ner Alfonse Alexander? “I taught Salsa or ‘LatinHustle’ partner dancingwith Alfonse,” Neka recalls.

Dancers Neka and Alfonse Alexander taught Latin Hustle partner danc-ing in Ronnie Branham’s glittering disco palaces during late 1970’s.

Kid ballerinas Neka and older sister Mary Lou duringlearning years.

Action Magazine, September 2011•7

Neka’s 92- year - old mom, Mary Sistrunk, during

her hula dancing days.

“We worked in all of theRonnie Branham discos--Hallelujah Hollywood,Sugar Daddy’s and DejaVu. Ronnie gave me a keyto all of his clubs.” Neka said, “I am blessedto have come from genera-tions of artists, musicians,and theater people whowere deeply spiritual. I havean old photograph of ‘TheSeven Russells.’ My great-grandpa, James Russellled his talented brood whoacted, danced, and sangtheir way across the U.S.,Canada, and Mexico. Helost both forearms in a trainaccident and used pros-thetic arms. He never let itslow him down.” James Russell’s great-granddaughter is a womanof myriad talents. Her lovefor both music and alldance styles is reflected inher art, ranging from apainting of ballerina Carisato her charcoal drawing ofguitar legend Jimi Hendrix.(For more information onNeka and her artwork, goto www.nekascarbrough-jenkins.vpweb.com) Sandwiched some-where between her danc-ing, dancing instructorbusiness, and an art career

which has never waned,Neka managed to establishherself as a recognized andaward-winning commercialphotographer. “I am honored,” Nekasaid, “to have pho-tographed the late Henry B.Gonzalez, Mayor Lila Cock-rell, Jocie Strauss, BillGreehee, Henry Cisneros,Dr. Leininger, Peter Holt,Mayor Nelson Wolf, and Dr.Henry Guerra for Any BabyCan’s photographic tributeand fundraiser.” Neka’s older sister, MaryLou Russell, has been aprofessor of music at SanAntonio College for morethan 40 years. Their 92-year-old mother, Mary(Nan) Sistrunk, is a formerdancer who Neka calls animpressable joke teller whosees life with the enthusi-asm of a child. “She still drives her owncar and goes about herbusiness as she alwayshas,” Neka said. “She istruly 92 years young.” Neka said she sang andplayed electric bass guitarfor almost 10 years in aWednesday night praiseband led by John Gaines atAlamo Heights MethodistChurch. She also sang in a

great secular band calledFocal Point, led by JimRyan of the popular 1960sgroup The Outcasts. Ryan and The Outcastsare among bands sched-uled to play September 4 atthe first annual TexasLegacy Awards show atFloore Country Store inHelotes, a venture jointlypromoted and co-producedby Neka Scarbrough Jenk-ins and girlhood runningmate Margaret Moser. Ms. Moser is an AustinChronicle writer and direc-tor of the Austin MusicAwards. When told thatNeka had been selected forthe cover article for thismonth’s issue of ActionMagazine, Moser emailedus: “Neka and I have knowneach other since we wereteenagers running aroundthe Teen Canteen andSunken Gardens gettingour rock and roll yaya’s out.Later, she was in my firstwedding and I babysat forher. I saw her develop in-terest in dance and con-tinue to cultivate the artistictalent she showed whenshe was young. I shouldn’thave been surprised to seeher develop into an award-

winning disco queen. “Neka’s journey in lifewas not easy, and some-times was rocky, but for her,never impassable. She pos-sesses such a generousheart and gives freely ofher time and talents. Isometimes have to remindmyself she is balancing amarriage, children, otherfamily and her work...not tomention her myriad inter-ests.” Moser wound up heremail by saying, “I countmyself so lucky to haveworked with Neka on theCanteen reunions of thelast couple of years andwith her on the Texas Legacy MusicAwards coming in Septem-ber. We tease her aboutbeing San Antonio’s headcheerleader, but, honestlySam, she is. Her boundlessenthusiasm and sunnygood nature makes her ajoy to be around, and Iwouldn’t have it any otherway.” (A detailed article byMargaret Moser on the up-coming Texas LegacyMusic Awards show is in-cluded in this issue of Ac-tion Magazine.) From her active involve-

Cont.on page 8

Cont.from page 6

Focal Point Band members are (left-right) Paul Kandera, DanDreeben, Jim Ryan, Neka Scarbrough and Cindy Howard.

This black and white photgraph is of the color paintingNeka did of her son Spenser Scarbrough.


Neka’s great- granpa James Russell, leader of

the talented clan.

Marge, Bob and Nellie of the performing Russel family.Photo (converted to black and white) of Neka painting

of Kendall, daughter of musican Jim Ryan.

Texas Legacy poster Carl Scarbrough.

Gathering from last Canteen Fest include (left to right) Sam Kinsley, Margeret Moser, Mike Lowell,

Neka Scarbrough Jenkins, and Sam Kindrick

ment with singing and play-ing an instrument, Neka re-turned to her artwork andbecame active in CoppiniFine Arts Academy, study-ing and competing her por-traits. “This year I was gratefulto be one of only eight se-lected to compete for Artistof the Year,” she said. Neka is active in AlamoHeights Methodist Church,where she started a specialneeds Sunday Schoolclass in 2003 for kids withdisabilities. Her interest in chal-lenged kids stems directlyfrom the youngest of herthree children, 21-year-oldSpenser Scarbrough, a

creative writer and videog-rapher who has AspergersSyndrome. Neka describes Asperg-ers as high-functioningautism, noting, “Bill Gates,Einstein, Mozart, and Dar-win are also said to be As-pies.” Neka said the highlightof her week is the Fridaynight meetings of the 500Club, a group of youngadults with Asperger Syn-drome and similar diag-noses. “The organization is ledby Pam and Jim McDon-ald,” Neka said. “The kidsand the parents have allformed lasting friendshipsas we meet to go bowling,

eat dinner, see movies, andjust hang out.” Neka said Spenser isstudying at San AntonioCollege for his certificationas a special needsteacher’s aide. She said hehas been caring for the se-verely disabled continuallysince he was in first grade.She said Spenser is cur-rently working on a video ofa love story between a boyand his true love who is dis-abled. The rest of Neka’s im-mediate family includesdaughter Eve the artist andson Evan the drummer,and husband Bruce Jenk-ins. Neka describes Bruceas her “all-time earthlyhero, great husband, dad,grandpa and talented pho-tographer and voraciousreader.” She lists her grandchil-dren as Zo (future lawyer),Ariel (future president), andChloe (future singer/song-

writer). And to avoid any confu-sion about her name Scar-brough Jenkins, let it beknown that Bruce Jenkinsis the current husband,while Carl Scarbrough is anex; and only a Neka couldreasonably justify the useof both in her legal namewithout pissing anyone off. “Carl is a tremendousartist, and we have re-mained friends through theyears. He and I even showour artwork together. Carland Bruce have developeda real friendship, andeveryone gets along fabu-lously. Also, Carl is Spenser’s father, so whynot Scarbrough Jenkins?Besides that, I have alwaysliked the way the nameScarbrough sounds.” A blonde looker with adancer’s figure, Neka Scar-brough Jenkins is a 59-year-old phenomenon whocould pass for half her age. A vegan since 2007, she

eats no animal productssuch as meat, fish, chicken,or dairy products. And shestill works out on the dancefloor. “My old Latin hustledance partner, AlfonseAlexander, has an insur-ance agency in Florida, buthe gets to San Antoniotwice a year. We hook upwith other showcasedancers for some spiritedworkouts at Republic ofTexas on the River Walk,”Neka said. “And you mightrecall Disco Pete Rendon.He’s still spinning therecords. Alfonse and I areolder now, but we still getafter it pretty darn good.”

Neka’s influences in art,dance, and music are nu-merous and broad reach-ing, but she ticked off a fewin answer to my questions: “Art. As a realist artist itwasn’t until I joined theCoppini Academy of Artthat I found the instruction Ineeded with excellent in-structors like Ron Watkinsand Irene Taylor. “Dance. Classical balletis my first love, but I delightin all dance expression.And Alfonse has alwaysbeen an inspiration. “Music. I love all music. Igrew up listening to classi-cal music, but when theBritish Invasion hit in the

Cont.from page 7

Cont.on page 14


Aztec Benefit San Antonio Rose Liveis teaming with San AntonioNorthwest Rotary to pro-duce a new charity event tobe held October 1 at theAztec Theatre. The Aztec is home to theSan Antonio Rose Liveclassic country music ex-travaganza. Rotary’s 8th Annual ArtWith A Country Heart Auc-tionbenefitting Any Baby Canand Northwest RotaryFoundation Charities is anevening filled with fun andgreat entertainment.

Price of admission is a$40 donation, and partici-pants will all be treated to afull-blown country music

show by the San AntonioRose Live show band whichfeatures such stars as ReBeca and others. The night begins with aVIP reception and silent ac-tion from 5:30 until 7:15p.m.followed by the San AntonioRose Live show at 7:30p.m. The silent auction in-cludes leisure and sportsactivities, travel excursions,art from local artists, includ-ing acclaimed local westernartist Raul Gutierrez, a for-mer Texas Artist of the Year. For tickets and informa-

tion, call (210) 212-7638.Tycoon Blowout

Richard Hartman is cel-

ebrating his third year ofoperation at Tycoon Flatswith a star-studded bluesbash October 2 that will

headline the legendaryW.C. Clark. Clark, known far andwide as The Godfather of

ReBeca

W.C. Clark

Ruben V Catherine Denise


Cont. on pg.14

Austin Blues, will be joinedon the show by two of SanAntonio’s hottest blues gui-tar performers--Ruben Vand Catherine Denise, two-time International BluesHall of Fame inductee. Official title for the showis Flats Is Back! Third An-niversary Celebration. “We have worked hardto get quality live entertain-ment back on the St. Mary’sStrip,” Hartman said. “Wehope to express our appre-ciation for the fan and musi-cian support we have

received.” Tycoon Flats is locatedat 2620 North St. Mary’s.

The show starts at 3 p.m.,and there is no covercharge. Help John Morgan

Friends and family ofKendalia area residentJohn Morgan are planninga big benefit show andparty for September 25 atVFW Post 76 on the down-town Riverwalk. Morgan is battling ad-vanced colon cancer, butappears both upbeat andresolute as he wages hispersonal war one day at atime.

There will be at leasteight bands for the event,which will also includeprizes, a raffle, a bake sale,barbecue plates, and more.It will run from noon until 10p.m. Admission is free, andthe event is open to every-one. The VFW canteen willbe serving beverages. Bands lined up for thefund-raiser include BadReputation, 70s, 80s, and90s rock; Nerdy By Nature,original and cover songs;The Burning Desires, cov-ers, top-40s, and oldies;

Rockin H Band, awesomecountry; Final Cut, Tejanoand oldies; Infinity, best inS a n Antonio variety; and Cel-sius, salsa, Tejano, oldschool, disco, country andmore. John Morgan’s brotherJames Morgan, organizerof the benefit, plays bassguitar in Celsius. He alsoplays keyboards, accordion,bass and guitar in Infinity. Raffle prizes at this writ-ing included a deep seafishing trip, a dove hunt,one Spurs autographed

2011 basketball in a case, aSpurs autographed ManuGinobili jersey, an auto-graphed poster of Spurslegend George Gervin, two$100 tickets to an October25 Taylor Swift concert do-nated by Y-100, and aposter of boxing legendRocky Ramon, and an as-sortment of bats, balls, andphotographs autographedby members of the St. LouisCardinals baseball team. Two of the ball playershave ranches in theKendalia area and arefriends with Earl Noah,

John Morgan


Bubble Puppy to headline awards showBy Margaret Moser

Reunion shows areone thing. Awards showsare quite another - just askme. For 30 years I’ve ei-ther directed or had ahand in the Austin MusicAwards during South bySouthwest. Working withPete Townshend, BillyGibbons, LucindaWilliams, Willie Nelson,Lyle Lovett, and numerousothers is the privilege of35 years of writing aboutmusic for a newspaper

that cares, but the inspira-tion for it lies in a muchdeeper chamber of myheart: my years as ateenager in San Antonio inthe mid to late 1960s. My life in San Antoniolasted a scant five years,from 1966 to 1971, and forthat my parents get be-lated but deep thanks forgiving me a culturally richbackground, despite myresentment of movingfrom New Orleans in 1966to the end of the world:

San Antonio. The onlything I knew about S.A.,thanks to Shindig, wasthat was where the SirDouglas Quintet wasfrom. Then I discovered theradio, the voices on KTSAand KONO that still echoin the recesses of mymind, amid advertise-ments for stock car racingon Rittiman Road, dancesat Lake McQueeny, forbid-den clubs like the MysticMoor and the Mind’s Eyeand the PusiKat. Theycame first on a treasuredred plastic transistor radiowith the requisite ear-piece, then a more sophis-ticated gray plasticSilvertone radio, a brandlike their guitar, I notedwith juvenile smugness asI toiled in 9th grade atRobert E. Lee. In between classes, Iwas trying to deciphermysteries encoded on 45s

and record jackets: Whowas McKinley Morgan-field? Is the R.P. St. Johnwho wrote “Bye Bye Baby”for Janis Joplin the sameone who wrote “Slide Ma-chine” on the Elevators’album? Why did Homer’s“I Never Cared for You”sound familiar to my clas-sically aware ears? Andhow did Zakary Thaksmake that sound on “Faceto Face”? These werequestions I wanted an-swers to. But it was tough toprove you had soul whenyou were 15 and lived inCastle Hills and a girl. Iwent to the Teen Canteenwhen I could, but I wasusually more interested inthe band, so soon I verynaturally found myselfhanging around with anddating musicians. I datedLee Harper and TommyDavis, flirted with RexFoster, and harbored a

mad crush on David Hill.For all teenage heart-break, I learned that fuzzguitar was the sound Iloved but couldn’t identify,that McKinley Morganfieldwas Muddy Waters, thatR.P. St. John and PowellSt. John were the same,that I was right aboutHomer and they’d given apsychedelic nod to “Hall ofthe Mountain King.” San Antonio also gaveme my first taste of posterlust, a lifelong desire forthose colorful works ofarts advertising forever along-past show. The con-cert posters testify to SanAntonio’s dominance overAustin as the touring des-tination: The Janis Joplinhandbill was drawn after abottle of Southern Com-fort; Blind Faith’s did notmention Delaney & Bon-nie & Friends opening;Hendrix looks out balefullyin the poster from the last

of his three shows here.But it was the whimsicalhandbills drawn by Dan“Boogie” Winans for theSunday concerts atSunken Gardens in 1969that fired my imagination,and remained there as il-lustration of wild San An-tonio days. I began writing first forthe Austin Sun in 1976,then the Austin Chroniclein 1981. My San Antoniopast was always importantto me, but when I fell vic-tim to the irresistible lureof nostalgia of Mike Low-ell’s wonderful Canteenreunions (like his upcom-ing Cooter’s show October30 at Floore’s), it hit melike a fever in the blood. It wasn’t just nostalgia,though the timing of my40th class reunion at Leeput a certain glow onthings this summer. For 30years, I’ve helped Austinhonor its past through the

Cont.on page 13


Bubble Puppy band includes ( left-right) Todd Potter, Roy Cox, David

Fore and Ron Prince. (Not pictured are Mark Miller

and Jimmy Ummstadt.

Austin Music Awards. I getto do that in Austin formany reasons, but work-ing for an editor and pub-lisher, Louis Black andNick Barbaro, who are asgenuinely committed tothe past as the future isprimary. San Antonioboasts a unique place inTexas rock history and itsparticipants deserve thesame kind of recognition,and rarely receive it. I’d seen what it meantto musicians in March dur-ing SXSW, when BubblePuppy levitated like it was1969 all over in only foursongs. They had accepteda Hall of Fame award andplayed their electrifyingset to not just 3000 peo-ple, but being acknowl-edged for their work as aband over 40 years be-fore. Didn’t San Antoniomusicians deserve that

too? Couldn’t we makethat happen? That’s what makes theTexas Legacy MusicAwards a different sort ofevent. When my co-founders Neka Scar-brough-Jenkins andMichael Ann Coker and Iconceived this show, itwas very different, more ofreunion effort. That wasfine, but it seemed to melacking in purpose. If myreasons for wanting to seebands like Bubble Puppyplay one more time wereshared with others, itmeant something to themtoo. When it became clearwe could honor the workof these musicians, wewere thrilled. I could tell you aboutthe fun, glamorous stuff -calling musicians andbands and gatheringephemera that tells a vi-

brant story of a little-cele-brated time in San Anto-nio’s rock history before itbecame the hard rockcapitol of Texas, but thereal story is in the peoplewho make it happen. Theboundless energy of NekaScarbrough-Jenkins is anamazing story in thesepages and just as muchcredit goes to Michael AnnCoker, whose experiencein the San Antonio musicscene for decades givesher incomparable insightto the TLMA vision. Likewise, we asked alot of people for their opin-ions in choosing names tohonor this year at TexasLegacy. The responsesare a tip of the iceberg, asSan Antonio is only thecrown jewel in SouthTexas rock & roll. Andwhile everyone remem-bers the Sir Douglas Quin-

Cont.from page 12


Whiskey Cont. from Page 3

States which they are calling“trashgrass domination.” Instrumentation, arrange-ment, and style demonstratedby this young band evoke thebest aspects of Bill Monroe andDel McCoury. But WhiskeyShivers members insist that thegroove is something out of thelate-70s punk rock or stax-erasoul, all played with an irrever-ence and humor unheard of inmodern bluegrass music. You’ve heard of newgrass.Now welcome to trashgrass.The first Saturday of everymonth at Specht’s in Bulverde.

early 1960s, I became ob-sessed with their musicand was even president ofthe Rolling Stones FanClub. I practically lived inSam Kinsey’s Teen Can-teen where MargaretMoser and I spent count-less hours listening to thegreat local bands.” Without a blink, Nekaslips into her super concertpromoter mode with an in-tensity that is sure to selltickets. Beginning with her involvement in Samstock in2009 and Canteen Fest in2010, Neka is quick to tootthe horns of both Moserand Dallas promoter Mike Low-ell, a former San Antonianand webmaster who runs apopular band website

called Mikes Band Archive(www.mikesbandarchive.com) Mike hired Neka to frontthe two Teen Canteen re-union shows, and he hasenlisted her aid for a forth-coming Cooter Brown’sMusicians Reunion andHalloween Party October30 at Floore Store. And thisone comes soon after theMoser/Scarbrough JenkinsTexas Legacy concert atthe same location. (See Cooter Brown’sshow ad in this issue of Ac-tion). When we startedpreparing for this article,Neka wanted me to includedetailed rundowns on all ofthe musicians scheduled toplay both the September 4Texas Legacy MusicAwards concert and theHalloween night CooterBrown’s Reunion show--bands ranging from BubblePuppy at the Septembershow to Pablo’s Grove, theMo-Dels, and Claude Mor-gan at the October blowout. I told her that such ex-tensive rundowns would re-quire separate articles, oneof which runs in the issueof the magazine. She didn’t believe thatan article on just Nekawould produce enough in-teresting copy to fill thespace. As I have heard it saidon TV, you be the judge.

Neka Cont. from Page 8

Headstones, Christopher &the Souls, and the Clique)are all getting together onemore time. The all-star setwith Johnny Cockerell,Sauce Gonzales, and theWestside Horns are a re-minder that Chicano soulwas born in San Antonio.

Awards Cont. from Page 13

Scatter Shots Cont. 11

John Morgan’s brother-in-law. There will be a bakesale, and barbecuebrisket plates and porksandwiches will be onsale. James Morgan iscalling the event “aMusic Festival for Life.” Acoustic Medicine Acoustic Medicine, a new series at OlmosBharmacy hosted bythe Melissa LudwigBand, will feature top-rung talent every otherSaturday through thefall and into the winterwith no cover chargefor any of the perform-ances. Scheduled, respec-

tively, for September 3and 17 are Susan Gib-son and Jess Klein.Publio Tribute

Veteran San Anto-nio musician PublioCasias will be the hon-ored guest at a Parkin-sons Foundation fundraiser from 3 p.m. until

10 p.m. Sept. 18 atSam’s Burger Joint. Proceeds from the

concerts will go to thefoundation in Publio’sname. Casias, who suffersfrom Parkinsons, isone of those local mu-sicians who has neverturned down a requestto play at a benefit forsomeone else. And hehas become some-what of a legend sincemoving from Laredo tothe San Antonio musicscene in 1960. With his popularrock band Publio andthe Valliants, Casiasworked along side mu-sicians such as DougSahm in historic oldjoints which includedThe Cellar, PurpleEye, and Blue Note. And in later years,he worked the WestCoast before returningto San Antonio and

starring in such institu-tions as the downtownPussycat Club andothers. Cove Film Event A locally producedshort film titled PoisonOakes will be part of asoundtrack releaseparty scheduled forSeptember 13 at TheCove. The film, about thedecline of an eccentricAlamo Heights motherand daughter, wasfilmed in black andwhite 1970s docu-mentary style with alocal cast and an orig-inal soundtrack withTexas music greatsand artists fromaround the globe, in-cluding Candy Kane. Activities at theCove will run from 7until 10 p.m.. The filmwill be shown andthere will be live per-formances bysuch artists as Kather-ine Dawn, Patrice Vil-lastrigo with JoelWilliams, Spot Barnettand Oscar Laun, Va-lerie Fernandez andRobin Kirby. Producer of the filmis Sid Deluca of RustyApache Studios.

Susan Gibson

Publio Casias

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