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Do-it-yourself
Film Fest
Cross
Canadian
Who is Cross Canadian Ragweed? It’s not a Credence Clearwater Revival cover band, and it’s not some stoned hippie group from Canada. It’s a killer band from Oklahoma who is taking Nashville for a new ride playing music their way. The band’s name is a mix of its member’s names--Grady Cross, Cody Canada, Randy Ragsdale and Jeremy Plato. What started as a couple of friends jamming together in Yukon, Okla. is now one of the hottest bands in the country. In eight years, they have made the move from Ragsdale’s basement to a Nashville label retaining their friendship and hard rockin’ country sound. “It smells like country, tastes like rock ‘n’ roll,” Canada taunts. The band is a testament to what is happening to the music industry in Texas and Oklahoma. With four albums, 1998’s “Carney,” 1999’s “Live at the Wormy Dog,” 2001’s “Highway 377” and 2002’s “Live at Billy Bob’s Texas,” they have sold over 50,000 copies as of mid-2002. With the release of their latest project, “The Purple Album,” CCR has taken a step forward. Universal South came to them after hearing of the band’s reputation. Universal South loved what the band had done with their CD, so CCR’s major label debut is just the way they envisioned it. The new CD is more what CCR fans are used to hearing at their live shows. It is rowdy, bluesy, sincere, and disrespectful – depending upon which cut you are playing. The name for the CD comes from the color of the cover--purple. It was chosen in memory of Ragsdale’s 9-year-old sister Mandi, who died in a car accident after a show in 2001. Considering each of the members feels this is their best project to date, it is a fitting tribute to Mandi. If the name of the band sounds familiar you have probably heard their “Boys From Oklahoma” on KLUR with Nash on Friday nights. You might also have heard their “Long Way Home” in the nationwide Dodge TV commercial. The best thing, however, is to catch them live. They will be playing Thursday night at Graham Central Station
Rilo
Kiley could care less
Yes, Jewel, we know you are poetic, sensitive and proud to be a woman who has at one point in her life lived in a van and lived to tell about it. Yes, Scott Stapp and Creed, we know you had a strict religious upbringing and you like to explore spirituality in your songs while singing from computer-generated mountaintops in your music videos. It goes on, and songwriters try so hard to be real that they become parodies of themselves. The key to Eminem’s success has been to straddle the line between being honest and being a caricature. No one knows when he’s kidding and when he wants to slit a woman’s throat. The band Rilo Kiley could care less. Maybe they’ll feel like singing a song today, and if not, it’s time to split a 12-pack and go bowling. It’s in this context that music feels more like a hobby and not an occupation, making the songs sound naturally honest instead of being forcibly blunt. It’s easy to imagine singer Jenny Lewis beaming on stage when she sings songs from “The Execution Of All Things.” She has a small, delicate voice that does anything but boom. It prefers to sit on top and float while the music shifts dramatically from low-key waltzes to twangy pop-rockers. The standout song and melody is “Capturing Moods,” in which Lewis sings, “This is your last line of defense, you could sell your baseball cards just to pay your rent.” It’s a dry and biting statement that could come from an ex-girlfriend or disgruntled mother refusing to lend money to her jobless bum of a son. Other standouts like “So Long” and “Better Son/Daughter” carry the same sneer/grin that could only come from someone who pretends that there is an audience full of friends instead of possible buyers. That’s the level of honesty that more songwriters should strive for. The sound of being relaxed is an indescribable quality, but it obviously exists. There is no need to try too hard.
Fund-raiser
opens doors Sunday Singer/songwriter Mitch Lechelt got together with several of his Texas music friends and decided to reach out and do something special. They decided to put their talents together to benefit the American Parkinson’s Disease Association. The beginning was a CD titled “Open Doors” with all proceeds going to the APDA. The project is special for Lechelt, 44, since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1995. It was not hard for Lechelt to get his Texas music buddies to participate. It’s only natural that they would come out to support of one of their own family members. What started as a CD to raise money has become a “gang” of sorts. The artists that participated on the CD have scheduled events all over Texas to promote the CD and raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease. Lechelt wrote the title track, “Open Doors,” and had artists donate one of their songs for the compilation CD. Included on the “Open Doors” CD are songs by Tommy Alverson, Brian Burns, Macon Greyson, Houston Marchman, Terri Hendrix, Davin James, Kim Edward, Jay Johnson, Jerry Max Lane, Sisters Morales, Bodie Powell, Terry Rasor and Kimmie Rhodes. This “gang” has grown in a very short span. At any event you can expect most, if not all, of them to attend the benefits. In addition, bands from all over Texas and Oklahoma ask to be a part of different events. You never know who may show up, but you know it will be great music, great times, and all for a wonderful cause! Sunday at Graham Central Station, the Open Doors Gang will be in full swing from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. They are only asking for a $5 donation at the door but will take more if you are so willing.
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