New York Post CHRISTMAS SPIRIT Review

December 26, 2008Action

Entertainment

12 New Holiday CDs

“Christmas Spirit,” Los Lonely Boys
When Christmas is all done and the ornaments get packed away till next year, this disc is going to get tucked way for safekeeping. It’s a fantastic rock ‘n’ roots take on the holidays. It stays close enough to traditional charts, too – so it still gets Santa’s seal of approval. The Texas trio shows off their musicality with a complex instrumental arrangement of “Carol of the Bells” and then rocks out on a slippery, near zydeco version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Feliz Navidad to Los Lonely boys for getting in on the reindeer games this year. –Dan Aquilante

EXTRA – Bilingual Newspaper Chicago

December 26, 2008Action

Esta época festiva tendrá sabor
“Texican”. Los Lonely Boys lanzaron
su primer álbum festivo titulado
Christmas Spirit de Epic Records.
Capturando el espíritu de las festividades,
los hermanos Garza
grabaron una compilación de canciones
originales y clásicas en este
álbum etéreo y energético. El álbum
fue grabado en solo una semana en
el Estudio Pedernales de Willie
Nelson en Austin, Texas. El álbum fue
producido y dirigido por Manny
Marroquin, que ha producido
álbumes para Carlos Santana y Alicia
Keys.
Christmas Spirit está lleno de fervor
navideño familiar en una forma
que sólo Los Lonely Boys pueden hacerlo.
El álbum incluye clásicas como
“Run Run Rudolph”,“Rudolph the Red
Nosed Reindeer”, “Santa Claus Is
Coming to Town”, “Away in a
Manger”, “Feliz Navidad”, “Jingle
Bells”,“Carol of the Bells”y
“Silent Night”.
El álbum contiene también
dos canciones originales
escritas por los hermanos
Garza, “I’ve Longed
for Christmas” y “She’’ll Be
My Everything”.
Los roqueros texican
tuvieron un verano ocupado.
El 1º de julio, la banda
lanzó su tercer álbum de
estudio titulado Forgiven –
que sigue a Sacred de 2006 –
producido por el aclamado
baterista Steve Jordan. Se
grabo en el East Side Stages en
Austin, Texas, y muestra su
primer sencillo, “Staying With
Me”.
Para más información de Los
Lonely Boys, visite loslonelyboys.
com para la información
más actual de giras.
Visit us at www.extranews.net 13 Thursday, December 18, 2008
¡Ya eres parte de la vida nocturna!
Weekly Nightlife Guide
This holiday season will have a
“Texican” flavor. Los Lonely Boys
released their very first holiday
album entitled, Christmas Spirit
through Epic Records.
Capturing the spirit of the holidays,
the Garza brothers recorded a compilation
of both originals as well as classics
on this both ethereal and energetic
album. The album was recorded
in just one week in May at Willie
Nelson’s Pedernales Studio in Austin,
Texas. The album was produced and
engineered by Grammy-winning
Manny Marroquin, who has produced
music albums for Carlos
Santana and Alicia Keys.
Christmas Spirit is full of familiar
Christmas flare done in a way only
Los Lonely Boys can deliver. The
album includes classics such as “Run
Run Rudolph,” “Rudolph the Red
Nosed Reindeer,” “Santa Claus Is
Coming to Town,” “Away in a
Manger,” “Feliz Navidad,” “Jingle
Bells,” “Carol of the Bells” and “Silent
Night.”
The album also features two original
songs written by the Garza
brothers, “I’ve Longed For
Christmas,” and ”She’ll Be My
Everything.”
The Texican rockers have had one
busy summer. On July 1, the band
released their third studio album
entitled, Forgiven – the follow up to
2006’s Sacred – which was produced
by acclaimed drummer Steve Jordan.
It was recorded at East Side Stages in
Austin, Texas and features their first
single, “Staying With Me.”
For more information on the Los
Lonely Boys,visit loslonelyboys.com for
the most updated tour information.
Los Lonely Boys Have
the Christmas Spirit
Los Lonely Boys Con
Espíritu Navideño
The CD track listing is
as follows
1. I’ve Longed for Christmas
2. She’ll Be My Everything
3. Run Run Rudolph
4. Cancion de las
Campanas (Carol Of The Bells)
5. Rudolph the Red
Nosed Reindeer
6. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
7. Away in a Manger
8. Feliz Navidad
9. Jingle Bells
10. Silent Night
>>

Christmas Spirit featured on Canada.com

December 21, 2008Action

Try a Texas-boogie Christmas, or some Little Big Band sounds

Dave Chesney, Surrey Now

Published: Friday, December 19, 2008

It’s that time of year again. On a daily basis, Christmas CDs have been arriving at our local record stores for the past month.

The long list of new CDs this year includes a wide variety of musical offerings from varied musical styles and artists.

One of the most interesting CDs I came across this year is the new collection of festive songs by LOS LONELY BOYS. The three Garza brothers from Austin, Texas have chosen a collection of favourites, and a couple of originals, to lend their southern-rock styling to.

Los Lonely Boys Have the Christmas Spirit – Hispanic Digital News

December 18, 2008Action

This holiday season will have a Texican flavor. Los Lonely Boys released their very first holiday album entitled, Christmas Spirit through Epic Records.Capturing the spirit of the holidays, the Garza brothers recorded a compilation of both originals as well as classics on this both ethereal and energetic album. The album was recorded in just one week in May at Willie Nelsons Pedernales Studio in Austin, Texas. The album was produced and engineered by Grammy-winning Manny Marroquin, who has produced music albums for Carlos Santana and Alicia Keys.

Christmas Spirit is full of familiar Christmas flare done in a way only Los Lonely Boys can deliver. The album includes classics such as Run Run Rudolph, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Away in a Manger, Feliz Navidad, Jingle Bells, Carol of the Bells and Silent Night.

The album also features two original songs written by the Garza brothers, Ive Longed For Christmas, and Shell Be My Everything.

The Texican rockers have had one busy summer. On July 1, the band released their third studio album entitled, Forgiven the follow up to 2006s Sacred which was produced by acclaimed drummer Steve Jordan. It was recorded at East Side Stages in Austin, Texas and features their first single, Staying With Me.

Bamajam Festival Confirmed – Southeast

December 18, 2008Action

A compilation CD aimed at aiding the rebuilding effort of Enterprise High School is now in stores and area residents are urged to purchase their copy of the historic album as soon as possible.

“We Are Enterprise,” a project by Country Crossing Records with Ronnie Gilley Entertainment, hit stores across the nation yesterday.

A release party scheduled to occur at the Enterprise Wal-Mart yesterday featuring Lorrie Morgan, Aaron Tippin and Darryl Worley was cancelled do to a winter storm in Nashville Monday night, but the artists sent their greetings.

“This is a heart-and-soul (project) for me and sometimes when Mother Nature speaks, we can only listen. This, much like a tornado, is out of our hands, but we are all with you in spirit and in that spirit, we hope you and your friends will celebrate ‘We Are Enterprise’,” Worley said. “We’ll see you soon.”

Worley said the people of Enterprise have become like family and it was important for him to give back to his family, to help the community heal.

Through business ventures in the community, Worley had become friends with the Strunk family and Katie, a sophomore at EHS and a self-proclaimed Worley fan.

Katie was at the school when the tornado hit and was killed by debris left in the storm’s wake.

The day following the tornado, Katie had planned to work for free at a concert Worley would be performing. She didn’t mind giving of her time if she would be able to spend time with her idol and friend. She never made it to the concert.

“Of course, when Darryl found out about the tornado, he was devastated,” said Gilley. “When he found out Katie was killed, he was really stricken in a big, big way. He had a personal attachment to the family, so much so that he wrote a song specifically for her.”

The song, “Katie’s Song,” speaks of a person taken too soon from the earth, but also of a person who wants wings, wants to be one of God’s angels if only so her friends and loved ones can feel her “in the wind.”

It can be heard on country radio stations throughout the area.

Ronnie Gilley, owner of Ronnie Gilley Entertainment, described the song as one of “the most touching” songs on the album.

“It’s one thing to have been blessed with the gift of music and songwriting, but when you see that what you do can bring relief to someone going through a tragedy, it’s such an inspiration and reminds me why I do this,” Worley said.

For each of the award-winning artists featured on the CD, contributing to “We Are Enterprise” was not just about having their music on another album. It was about the community, a community many of them have grown to love.

“Most all of them have some kind of tie to our community, whether it be investment ties or family or friends; they all have special ties to our community. This is their way of saying, ‘Hey, we care and we love you. This is our gift and hopefully it will shed some rays of light on a bad situation,’” said Gilley.

Artists featured on the album are Deborah Allen, John Anderson, Clint Black, Joe Diffie, Shelly Fairchild, George Jones, Tracy Lawrence, Richie McDonald, Lorrie Morgan, Aaron Tippin and Darryl Worley.

George Jones, featured on the album singing “Amazing Grace,” said he, too, wanted to give back to his newfound Enterprise family. Jones and his wife recently moved in their new home in The Legends subdivision.

“I remember watching the coverage on the “Weather Channel” and feeling like my kinfolk were in danger,” Jones said.

He said that Gilley informed him of the devastation and destruction, and voiced his desire to help his community in some way.

“It was his idea to put together this album as a fund-raising effort to help rebuild the high school. I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough,” Jones said. “I thought my recording of ‘Amazing Grace’ could help serve as a prayer for the healing of the community and lend to the overall success of the charitable project.”

Gilley, however, said he would not take credit for the album alone.

James Stroud, well known producer and Gilley’s business partner, played an integral role in the development of “We Are Enterprise.”

“He came in and wanted to give back to the community,” Gilley said. “After this tragedy took place, he came to me and said let’s do a tribute album and let’s help rebuild the high school.

“We had some big name artists step up and contribute their time and services to the same. It is really a display of kindness on their part. It really had nothing to do with me. We are just thankful to have those relationships and blessed by them.”

Stroud concurred that the willingness of the country music community to help in the fund-raising project was a blessing.

“When Ronnie made me aware of the suffering his community had endured and the ongoing hardships facing its high school students and faculty, I wanted to help any way that I could,” Stroud said.
“We had the idea to craft an album that would not only help with the cost of rebuilding the school, but that would also uplift the community with its message. Once we started calling our artist friends and hearing their desire to lend their time and talent, we knew the idea would work.”

“We Are Enterprise” is not the only exciting project Gilley is bringing to the area.

As plans for the 2009 BamaJam continue, news of headliners who will be in concert during the music festival continue to create buzz across the area.

In a recent announcement, Ronnie Gilley Entertainment confirmed rumors Kid Rock would headline this year’s festival.

Also confirmed as performers at next year’s festival are Pat Green, Los Lonely Boys, The Whigs, Charlie Daniels, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, Gary Allan, Blake Shelton, Heidi Newfield, Jamey Johnson, Low Cash Cowboys, Taylor Swift, 38 Special, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Houston County.

For more information about the music festival, visit www.bamajamfestival.com.

Boys not really so lonely – Sacramento Bee

December 6, 2008Action

Boys not really so lonely

The Garza brothers’ hellish tour schedule is a family endeavor, so it’s really heaven

By Rachel Leibrock
rleibrock@sacbee.com

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Published: Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 | Page 7EXPLORE

Los Lonely Boys are on the road again. The Texas-born band of brothers spends at least eight months of each year playing everything from pubs and nightclubs to auditoriums and concert halls.

The seemingly endless road show is testament not just to the Texas band’s popularity but to a life spent raised on music and, accordingly, music steeped in faith, family, home and tradition.

Los Lonely Boys perform Thursday at the University Ballroom at California State University, Sacramento.

The “boys” – brothers Henry, JoJo and Ringo Garza – started making music before they were old enough to go to school. It began as a way to imitate their father’s band – also composed of brothers – which played everything from country and rock to traditional conjunto music in the bars and clubs of central Texas.

“All his life my dad played music with his brothers,” says JoJo Garza, talking on the phone from his San Angelo, Texas, home during a recent tour break.

“He admired rock ‘n’roll and he also had a love for country and all along the way he taught us how to play.”

Garza was 5 when he first picked up an instrument for fun. He was 8 when, after the death of his uncle, he and his brothers were recruited to be part of his father’s new backing band.

Garza remembers the experience as a merging of family ties, musical education and the occasional brotherly tussle.

“Everyone brought his own influences to the table,” Garza says with a laugh. “We were three brothers with one stereo, and we occasionally fought about that.”

The disagreements were hardly enough, of course, to threaten the Garza brothers’ alliance.

In the late ’90s, the trio formed Los Lonely Boys and recorded a handful of self-released albums. In 2004, the band took it the next level and recorded its self-titled major-label debut for Sony Records.

The disc, recorded with Willie Nelson at his Austin-based Pedernales studio, resonated with listeners, achieving multiplatinum status. The song “Heaven” was a radio hit and earned the band a 2005 Grammy for best pop performance by a duo or group.

Now, two albums later, Los Lonely Boys haven’t strayed far from the sound that made them popular.

The group’s latest disc, “Forgiven” carries on its predecessors’ themes of love and faith built on a foundation of rock, blues, R&B, country and Tejano.

The album took only two weeks to record, but the band spent several months writing and polishing the songs before setting foot in a studio.

That extra time, Garza says, allowed them to overcome some of the difficulties experienced in making their second album, 2006’s “Sacred.” Although Garza says they’re still proud of that album, it ultimately felt “rushed” and incomplete.

“I think we got what we wanted with (‘Forgiven’) because it’s not about the time it takes to write a record – but the time it takes to experience the songs.”

Garza’s favorite on the album is its title track. The song – soft, wistful and pleading – is about love, both personal and spiritual.

“If that song doesn’t hit you right away, then there’s something wrong with you,” Garza says.

A blunt message, sure, but Los Lonely Boys, although hardly marketed as a Christian rock band, have never shied away from singing about their beliefs.

“Faith plays the biggest role in everything we do,” Garza says. “It’s the most important thing to Los Lonely Boys, to our families. Everything we see, touch, smell and feel comes from God.”

Of course, he adds, there are other influences at work, too. Family is important – “We wouldn’t be here without everything we’ve gone through as a family” – as is their home state.

A childhood spent growing up in San Angelo imbued the band with an unshakable sense of place.

“Texas is a very special place – the air, the ground, the water, the people – it just gets into you,” he says.

In a few days, however, it’ll be time for Garza to leave home and head out on the road once again.

It may be back to the highway grind but Garza’s not complaining about the grueling road schedule. Playing two-thirds of the year at venues big or small, he says, gives the band the ongoing chance to prove its mettle.

“Besides, we’ll still be home for the holidays, so this is a good place to be.”

Call Bee pop music writer Rachel Leibrock, (916) 321-1176.

NORML's Friday Night Podcast

December 6, 2008Action

Music: Los Lonely Boys – “Friday Night (live)”

I’m gonna make this one quick, Stashers. It’s Friday, the work week is over, and I think we all just have to go out and have the best weekend we can!

You’ve heard Los Lonely Boys on the podcast before, from the same album, no less, but this track is quite apropros, a rockin’ blues track for what I can only hope will be a rockin’ weekend for us all.

You can hear more Los Lonely Boys on their Myspace page, or through their website.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Latina Magazine Culture Blog

December 6, 2008Actionloophole

Feliz (Early) Navidad

Published by Angie at 12:26 pm under Get Cultured

Dec 03 2008

I’ll be the first to admit that all that Christmas tunage does get old. I’m no Grinchetta, either, but this weekend alone, I heard “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays” by Karen Carpenter at the nail salon, the laundromat, AND the grocery store. Now, I love Karen’s voice as much as the next person, but the repetitiveness of it all prompted me to update my own tired holiday collection. I’m not saying you should get rid of Mariah, Christina, and Gloria, I’m just saying pop in something fresh, like the new Los Lonely Boys’ Christmas Spirit album, which was recorded by our Grammy-winning boys in Willie Nelson’s very own studio in Austin. It’s even got two new jingles. And for those of you who just can’t get enough of the classics, it’s got plenty of those, too. Now if only I could find someone to sip hot apple cider with as we watch Love Actually for the 400th time…

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It’s time for some Christmas/holiday music

December 6, 2008Actionloophole

Posted by jamiekelly under Uncategorized | Tags: interactive, music |

The Gazette’s annual review of holiday CDs is out today. You can see what we had to say about some new music here.

It’s always fun to see what musicians are doing with Holiday music. We have everyone from Bela Fleck to Enya to Los Lonely Boys.

But wait, as they say, there’s more!

This year, we want you to get in on the act. We have a form for you to submit your favorite non-traditional holiday song. We’re looking for anything you love that might be off the beaten path, whether it’s The Pouges’ “Fairytale of New York” or “I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”

Share what you love with others!

One Response to “It’s time for some Christmas/holiday music”

Rita Serrano Says:
December 4, 2008 at 7:17 pm My favorite non-traditional Christmas song this year is Los Lonely Boys’ “She’ll Be My Everything For Christmas.”

I love the melody, the lyrics, and especially Henry Garza’s vocals.

It has a great beat and is easy to dance to.

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In the Pines of Houston Americana prospers in the northern suburbs

December 6, 2008Actionloophole

By William Michael Smith

Published on December 02, 2008 at 3:06pm

Unlikely as it seems, a 100-year-old Kentucky tobacco barn has become the vortex of Montgomery County’s bustling country and Americana scene. In less than two years, The Woodlands’ Dosey Doe Coffee House (25911 I-45 North) has gone from fledgling enterprise to major venue.

Photos by D.W. Clements

Mason Williams…

Photos by D.W. Clements

Larry Gatlin…

Dosey Doe Coffee House, Montgomery County, Texas, Conroe, Texas, Sounds of Texas Music Series

And Dosey Doe is only part of the flourishing scene just north of the Harris County line. Once-sleepy Conroe now supports several festivals and concert series, and more venues are in the pipeline.

Dosey Doe is the brainchild of Steve Said, who owns a bank-equipment and software company and has spent much of his adult life on the fringes of the music business as a ghostwriter. (He worked on Collective Soul’s “Shine” and Dan Hartman’s ’80s hit “I Can Dream About You.”) Still, Said never pictured himself as a venue owner.

“I had this piece of property on the I-45 feeder I needed to do something with or sell,” he says.

An avid collector of Americana objects, Said was viewing a major collection in Ohio that was housed in an old barn that had been taken apart, moved 150 miles and reassembled. Intrigued, Said began searching for a similar barn. At the same time, Said was at a point where he was trying to find “that thing in life you think you were meant to do.”

With the success of Starbucks staring him in the face, he got interested in coffee.

“I took some courses though the American Coffee Association. I never knew until then what a nose I have,” he says. “After some education and practice, I got to where I could tell what any coffee was and where it came from just by smelling it.”

Today, he roasts, grinds and ships over 1,000 pounds of coffee per day; his most recent major customer is cowboy singer Michael Martin Murphey. Once Said finally found a suitable barn, in Kentucky, it took another year to get it moved to The Woodlands.

“As we began putting it back together, it dawned on me — we have to take acoustics into account.”

Sound engineers were brought in and, when the oak and birch barn was finally ready, local sound guru Harold Rubens pronounced the structure one of the most acoustically perfect rooms he’d ever encountered.

“And that’s what the artists who play here always tell us,” says Said. “Clint Black liked it so much, he literally wanted to know everything about it.”

After a slow start, Said says Dosey Doe has finally hit the national map.

“At first, I just had to be very aggressive about chasing acts,” he explains. “It’s only been in the last year when acts like BeauSoleil have called us wanting to play here that I began to feel like maybe we’ve arrived. In fact, Larry Gatlin, who played here a few months back, has been our best salesman. His word-of-mouth support has been huge.”

Besides BeauSoleil, Black and Gatlin, Said counts recent gigs by Fred Eaglesmith, Mason Williams and Gary Nicholson as booking milestones.

“Jerry Jeff Walker hasn’t played a small venue [the Dosey Doe accommodates 260] in 15 years, but he’ll be here February 14.”

In the next 90 days, Dosey Doe, which features gourmet chef Dan McEachern and coffee roasted on location, will play host to an array of national and international stars like Richie Havens, Carlene Carter, Pam Tillis, Juice Newton, John Conlee, Hayes Carll, Asleep at the Wheel and B.J. Thomas. The club also hosts the “Real Life — Real Music” songwriter series, where noted songwriters (Bryan White, Rodney Hayden) not only play their work but tell the stories behind the songs.

Said notes the Dosey Doe concept has been so successful that he’s considering another location, in downtown Conroe, whose city fathers have been solidly behind a revitalization program that includes the renovation of the Crighton Theater (234 N. Main).

Debbie Glenn serves on the Sounds of Texas music committee, which books the Crighton, and also works with the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival, an annual three-day event featuring regional and national acts. Glenn credits Conroe City Councilman J. Ross Martin and Mayor Tommy Melder for the emphasis on music in downtown Conroe.

“J. Ross is just so into this music and he knows his stuff,” she says. “And our mayor, our Main Street director Larry Calhoun and all the other city council members see music and art as important ingredients for revitalizing downtown.”

The 2009 Sounds of Texas Music Series has booked Los Lonely Boys, Chris Knight, Guy Clark and the Flatlanders, and negotiations are under way with Nashville heavyweight Darrell Scott for 2010. Glenn, an insurance agent, also hopes to get a Texas Independence Day Festival off the ground in 2009.

“Montgomery County is growing by leaps and bounds,” she says. “I think we all agree that entertainment and music have to be in the mix for the kind of community we want here.”

The City of Conroe also sponsors an outdoor First Thursday in the Park concert series; according to Martin, a Friday in the Park series is on the drawing board.

“We are all about the arts and the artists,” Glenn stresses. “We go to great lengths to treat the artists well and make them comfortable. That’s why we’ve been able to book people like Richard Thompson, who’d probably never even heard of Conroe until

…and Clint Black are among the many artists singing Dosey Doe’s praises.

Dosey Doe Coffee House, Montgomery County, Texas, Conroe, Texas, Sounds of Texas Music Series

“Music is just part of our total arts and cultural package,” Melder says. “Name me another town with a population of 54,000 with three first-class facilities — the Crighton, the new Owen Theatre and Heritage Park — dedicated to the promotion of arts and culture.

“Companies that consider moving to Conroe look at more than just water rates, sewer rates and schools — they want to know what you have to offer as a city,” Melder adds. “We had Marvin Hamlisch here at the Crighton Saturday night. How many small cities can say that?”

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