PLAY DATES

EVEN COWBOYS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF ROCK & ROLL
By QUALAMATOCHA and SHANNON CRABTREE
A little bit of country, a little bit of rock 'n roll - that's what the music scene in El Campo is like on almost any given weekend. For an added mix, toss in some  polka, alternative rock, R&B, Tejano, Conjuncto or other Latin music to attract an even more diverse audience.

Texas music artist Kelly Kenning filmed his video "Rosie's Cantina" in El Campo last year with the help of country music legend Johnny Rodriguez. Here, Kenning plays it up for the camera with one of the video actresses.

There's even an occasional rap performance.

It all depends on which doors you walk through on any given night. Friday and Saturday nights, especially, guitar twangs and the boom of base can be heard beyond the doors and under the glowing neon so familiar to those who follow the bands and the beats - a siren-song for modern men and women wanting to kick up their heels and dance.

Some venues still feature the traditional wooden dance floors sand-sprinkled for the perfect slide on leather-soled boots while all make the visitor as comfortable as a wellworn barstool at happy hour or the kooziecovered longneck offered with a smile.

 

Black tie isn't optional - it'd be down right odd.

With a population of 11,000, El Campo may be small, but it offers a mighty big mix of some of the top Texas artists in the state.

Musicians playing the local stages have included Kevin Fowler, Gary P. Nunn, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Brandon Rhyder and Cory Morrow - just to name a few.

El Campo has produced some well known Texas bands too.

Vallejo, a group of brothers originally from El Campo, got their start here, as did Haydn Vitera, formerly of Asleep At The Wheel.

Charlie Merta

"The live entertainment in El Campo is great," Susie Slattery said. "We have a lot of local talent that is starting to be showcased. We don't have to go into Houston either, as businesses are bringing in talent from all over."

The popularity of El Campo's music scene is already drawing state and national attention.

In January 2008, Texas Monthy magazine traveled to the city to explore the offerings of Greek Bros. Oyster Bar & Grill - a site known not only for its dining fare, but also the two-story viewing area of a stage which has hosted everyone from Roger Creager and Junior Brown to rising Texas bands like Honeybrowne, the Nailers and Django Walker.

Cross Canadian Ragweed wows the El Campo crowd under the weekend night lights.

It's just one of the venues where the "Pearl of the Prairie" shines brightly into the neon festooned night.

Last year, it was Rosie's Cantina at Muldoon's Saloon which brought country music legend Johnny Rodriguez, recording artist Kelly Kenning and 2007 Miss South Texas Rose Christina Requena to downtown El Campo for the filming of a music video.

About 20 local and area residents with longnecks in hand were used as "stand-ins" inside the cantina.

"I thought it was awesome. I had a great time. I thought the crew did a great job and everyone in El Campo was very supportive," Kenning said.

His song "Rosie's Cantina" appeared on his album Heartaches, Honkey Tonks and Friends and has received play on national country music video channels.

And while Kenning may be a new name to many, Rodriguez, who has performed many times in El Campo including at the annual Heat It Up for Hospice Cook Off, is as familiar to country music followers as a well broken in pair of boots.

Inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in August of 2006, he's best known for his singles, "Pass Me By If You Are Only Passing Through," "Down On The Rio Grande" and "Eres Tu."

While big names are always a tremendous draw, the local bands are worth a toe-tapping listen.

Groups like the Taylor Brothers Band, The Superior Band, the Charlie Merta Band and the Rudy & Alys Band offer music for local clubs, weddings, anniversaries and other special occasions. Local dance halls are another venue for dancing, dining and celebrating special occasions.

For the slightly older crowd, or just those who like the truly traditional music of Texas and the Polka-loving ethnic communities, dances are held at the American Legion

Hall on Armory Road every Thursday. Three bands rotate from week to week.

The Charlie Merta Band is one of those.

When he was a boy, Charlie's dad gave him a 10-button accordion which he quickly learned to play. Soon he joined the El Campo Polka Boys, a five-piece band which had a 30-minute radio show back in the early 1950s.

He and wife Ella have played for decades now - with the family joining in.

"One thing about growing up with music, when cousins or relatives came over, the jam sessions were on," said Carl Merta, one of Charlie's sons. "Dad had a lot of old buddies who would come over and bring their accordions as well and they would play all evening long."

Although far from the squeezebox sounds of the Merta family, the Taylor Brothers Band has also been performing locally for decades. With a variety of country, rock, R&B, Tejano and dance music, Chuck and Mike Taylor's group has earned the reputation as "South Texas' No. 1 Dance Band," and has opened shows for George Strait and Steve Warner.

"The band also had the honor of playing for President George H.W. Bush at the coliseum in Beeville when he was still in office," member Clint Robinson of Louise and El Campo Radio Station KULP disc jockey said.

The Taylor Brothers Band continues to perform every weekend at clubs and dance halls in the area. For more information on them, see my space.comthetaylorbrothersband.

The Rudy & Alys Band (www.myspace. com/therudyalysband) is an up and coming local group playing a selection of country, classic rock, oldies and Spanish.

Rudy Ochoa and Alys Piloto started singing together July 2006. Alys was "discovered" by many when she sang for local charity events.

The Superior Band (http://superiorband. net/superiorband2.htm) draws much of its strength from El Campo's own Audrey Haller who began her singing career early in a local church before taking the dream stages of karaoke bars. Soon she was opening shows for performers like B.B. King, Willie Clayton, Bobby Bland and Betty Wright.

In 2003, she recorded her first CD single, Ready to Love You (Baby Come Back) and Whole Lotta Woman.

Another of El Campo's favorites is Haydn Vitera who grew up here.

Vitera's musical interests began at an early age. The first-born son of a rice farmer from Texas and an opera singer from Mexico started with classical piano and added classical violin three years later.

At age 14, he discovered the guitar, teaching himself to play on his mother's 40-year-old gut string. In 1997, he played fiddle, guitar and sang backup in Rick Trevino's band, performing all over the United States and Canada.

In 2002, he joined the Grammy-winning Asleep at the Wheel and in April of 2005, Vitera left the Wheel to promote his debut album. For more, see http://www.haydnvitera.com/default.php.

Vallejo (http://www.vallejomusic.com/) also claims El Campo roots. Using a blend of modern rock and Latin percussion, Vallejo has become one of the most popular bands to hail from Austin. But the three Vallejo brothers - A.J. (vocals, guitar), Alejandro (drums) and Omar (bass) - grew up right here.

But so did many others now pursuing musical careers and surely many more will follow.