Upcoming Shows

01/01 - 11th Annual Townes Van Zandt Wake @ the Old Quarter
01/04 - Cadillac Sky @ McGonigel's Mucky Duck
01/05 - Jerry Jeff Walker @ Grand 1894 Opera House (Galveston)
01/12 - Kinky Friedman @ the Mucky Duck
01/12 - Sisters Morales @ the Old Quarter
01/13 - Russian New Year Party with The Gypsies @ Fitzgerald's
01/15 - Carolyn Wonderland @ the Mucky Duck
01/16 - Bonnie Bishop @ the Mucky Duck
01/17 - Chris Smither @ the Mucky Duck
01/18 - Ray Wylie Hubbard @ the Mucky Duck
01/18 - Gary P. Nunn @ Blanco's
01/19 - South Austin Jug Band @ the Mucky Duck
01/24 - The Belleville Outfit @ the Mucky Duck
01/26 - Jesse Dayton and Brennen Leigh @ the Mucky Duck
01/26 - Two Tons of Steel @ The Continental Club
01/27 - Al Stewart @ the Mucky Duck
01/28 - Van Halen @ the Toyota Center
01/29 - Mando Saenz @ the Mucky Duck
01/31 - John Evans @ Blanco's

At The Verizon

Last Friday night I saw Randy Weeks and Joe Ely in concert at the Verizon Theater.

What an awesome show!

Both artists were backed by a full band.

Randy's band included Tony Gilkyson on lead guitar and Jack Saunders on bass.

Joe's band featured Joel Guzman on accordion and keyboards and included Jimmy Pettit on bass.

Randy opened the show and played a great set which included the songs: "Motor City", "Can't Let Go", "Don't Step Away", "Last DWI", "Gimme Back My Soul", "Get Back to Me", "We Go Round in Circles", "Big Man Make the Little Girl Cry", "Ton of Shame" and "Transistor Radio".

Joe Ely also played a terrific set featuring songs from throughout his career including: "Silver City", "Streets of Sin", "Ranches and Rivers", "Cool Rockin' Loretta", "Me and Billy the Kid", "Road Hawg" and "Lord of the Highway".

He also played songs by other famous Texas songwriters including: Robert Earl Keen's "The Road Goes on Forever", Townes Van Zandt's "White Freightliner Blues" and songs from fellow Flatlanders including Butch Hancock's "Bluebird" and Jimmie Dale Gilmore's "Dallas".

It was also nice to see that the "dance floor" was put to good use during both sets. : )

Over 100 new churches have been opened in Moscow in 2007

From Interfax:

2007-12-24

Over 100 new churches have been opened in Moscow in 2007

Moscow, December 24, Interfax – Over 100 Orthodox churches have been opened in Moscow for the recent year.

According to statistics, cited by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia at a diocesan meeting of Moscow clergy on Monday, there are 851 churches and chapels in the Russian capital including seven Kremlin churches and two cathedrals whereas there were only 730 of them in 2006.

Nowadays, divine services are conducted in 725 Moscow churches, 25 churches are still occupied by former holders, while services are not resumed in 15 churches. The number of clergymen in the capital equals to 1770.

On the whole, the Russian Orthodox Church has 142 dioceses, 732 monasteries (219 friaries and 240 nunneries in Russia, 128 friaries and 139 nunneries in the CIS countries, three friaries and three nunneries in Russia’s far abroad countries) 196 representations, 56 hermitages, 27 942 parishes, 10 141 Sunday schools, five theological academies, three Orthodox universities, two theological institutes, 38 theological seminaries and 39 theological colleges. The number of clergymen totals to 29 751, including 193 hierarchs.

Heathens...

...no, not real heathens like these people, or these guys, or even these two ...but a Band of Heathens.

They are who I saw in concert last night at the Mucky Duck.

These (very musical) Heathens put on a great show in front of a standing-room only crowd.

This was the first time I had seen this group perform (although I had heard Gordy Quist play at the Duck once before).

The Heathens played one marathon set packed with a number of great songs including: "Unsleeping Eye", "Philadelphia", "One More Step", "Bumblebee", "Ain't No More Cane", "Cornbread", "Jackson Station", "Walking and Talking" and "Judas 'Scariot Blues".

You can check out more of the band's music here and buy their cd and new dvd here.

Hellholes

The American Tort Reform Association has released its 2007 report on Judicial Hellholes.

The full report can be read here.

Glory Be to God!

Photo Source

Last Sunday His Grace, Bishop Peter of Cleveland (ROCOR), celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the parish of Saints Peter & Paul (OCA) in Manville, New Jersey.

More information and photos regarding this historic service can be found here at the parish website.

Cactus

Image Source

Over the weekend I had a chance to check out the return of Cactus Music to Houston.

I dropped by to check out the new location and to hear The Gougers play one of the first in-store appearances. The fact that Saint Arnold's was there providing free beer was an added bonus!

It was nice to see the old store back in business again. The new "Record Ranch" component of the store is pretty cool...lots of vinyl for sale.

My first ever purchase at the new Cactus consisted of:

The Gougers new cd - Long Day for the Weathervane

Lucinda Williams - Sweet Old World

and Eric Taylor's - Scuffletown

(plus I had around 5-6 free promos handed to me on my way out - Thanks Guys!)

More on Scruggs Saga

There has been a lot of news over the last few days concerning the indictment of Mississippi attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs.

This article from the Southeast Texas Record offers a good summary.

More coverage of this story can be found both here and here (including details on the guilty plea of Timothy Balducci).

Former Asbestos Attorney Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

This article from Law.com has the details on the sentencing of Louis Robles (a former high-profile asbestos attorney from Miami) to 15 years in prison.

Patriarch Alexy II Serves at ROCOR Cathedral

Photo Source

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow recently served a Moleben and Akathist before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Theotokos at a ROCOR Cathedral in Germany.

Additional photos of the services as well as the Patriarch's homily can be found here.