Teavana, fragrant, natural teas

Showing posts with label New Orleans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Orleans. Show all posts

Monday, June 29, 2009

Hadden Sayers Band

Hadden Sayers is a Texan born in Nacogdoches, raised in Sugar Land. He started playing guitar as a teenager, and like many of us became immersed in live music. He attended Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, but music was his preference. He's hung out with Blues and Texas Music legends Gatemouth Brown, Joe Ely, Omar and the Howlers, Eric Johnson and the "The Ramones". Sayers did get a degree in Journalism, then moved to Austin, TX where he was fortunate to enter into a "blues internship" with legendary BB King rhythm section "Silent Partners".

Sayers then joined Bluesman Lucky Peterson’s touring band, followed by returning to Houston and hooking up with Miss Molly and the Whips making his recording and songwriting debut on her first 2 releases: “Miss Molly” (EFM 1992) and “In the Garden” (EFM 1993).

Sayers began work on his own album in late 1993 and the Hadden Sayers Band was born. In 2004 Sayers moved to Columbus, Ohio to re-invent and re-invigorate. After a two-year hiatus from relentless touring, Sayers has returned to the studio and stage with an armload of new songs that decidedly more "Texas" than the material he wrote while living in the state. "Its a classic case of absence making the heart grow fonder." "The material I'm writing today is directly linked to the dance halls and stages I frequented in my first groups.....blurring the line between Country, Rock and Blues". (excerpted from Hadden's bio on-line)

Our Saturday night "Garden Party" featured the Hadden Sayers Band, and until then,I'd not heard or seen them live. It was through one of DMan's band pals we had the treat to finally hear and experience them, live. "R." had seen them while on a trip to Houston. I was impressed with them, the night of our party there were just three of the band members present, but those three guys made some great sound. Apparently the size and number in the band varies depending on venue and availability.
Hadden Sayers Band, "End of the Road"

Now the lead singer, Hadden Sayers, doesn't have Taylor Hicks or Joe Cocker style of vocals, his vocal tonal sound remind me a little of Stevie Ray Vaughn, really, and he's certainly proficient on the guitar. The band had us dancing in the moonlight until our legal curfew. We've decided to make this an annual event and expand it yearly. It was like our own festival, kids running with lighted glow jewelry, running with sparklers, grills cooking a variety of things from corn on the cob to ribs. Margarita machines and home made brews. Tables were set up and down the long street that we had blocked off. Fireworks at dark (yes we know they're illegal). Next year, since this street is so long we're going for a band at each end. We definitely would want the Hadden Sayers Band to return.
Hadden Sayers Band, "Everybody's Talking"

We've also put in motion a group, band related trip, to New Orleans for Fall. Really digging the new band members DMan and his buddy, R., have compiled, especially love my new BFF, Patrick. He's a classically trained pianist and plays beautifully. He sent a bouquet of sunflowers through DMan last night because he was having thoughts his calling me an "Ass" right after we met might deserve flowers. DMan assured him, it was one of my favorite parts of the night, I found it so cool he was so uninhibited with me. The sunflowers though, nice touch.

The guys are are set to play more gigs throughout the Fall and have a New Year's Eve date to be excited about. Do I think they're going to be The Next Big Thing in Dallas music? No. Am I happy they're having such a great time together and DMan gets to keep playing? Yes, he loves performing.

Regarding the Hadden Sayers Band, if you'd like to explore their sound a little more, their complete discography can be found in that link.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Taylor Hicks vs Deadspin.com

This has to be one of the Funniest Sports coverage blogs I have ever read. Ever. I might have to join this site. It's called Deadspin.com and they provided their take on the recent Celebrity Basketball Game Taylor Hicks played a part in New Orleans. Apparently they are affiliated with This site in assembling this fascinating and hilarious story.

One paragraph, one of my favorites, "We'll admit something. We hate American Idol. With the passion of a thousand Bill Waltons. It is turrrible.(sic) But as opposed to most of the participants who were actually trying to act cool, Hicks was over the top ridiculous. He knew he had no place there and reveled in it. The man was wearing his jersey tucked into his shorts, for God's sake. Neyo kept looking at him like he was walking around without pants on. If it seems that we are unnaturally preoccupied with the man, it's just that he was so amazingly out of place, and yet mystifyingly dorky.

I laughed until tears ran. hahahahahaha. Wow, these guys are good! Gave Terrell Owens some love too.

Man, Taylor Hicks, I hope you had fun there, man, you certainly knew how to draw the attention. Apparently they could not take their eyes off of you.

Looks like that's where the Formerly Known as the CL Fan Clubbers were this weekend, as the writer includes, "...the Used-To-Bees. Women, 50 to 80 years old...apparently they would be performing at halftime..." Too it seems they were rocking the comment boxes on Hardwood Paroxysm.blogspot.com. Great little comment on the site. From Anonymous, of course.

I might be in love with these guys. Hopelessly.