By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
Here's how to get your live music fix for the weekend and the next several days. Read on for tips on where to go and who to hear.
Dan Johnson & The Salt Cedar Rebels
Amarillo musician Dan Johnson had no intention of releasing a live album at this point. Heck, he’s still working on his latest studio album.
But a recording from the sound booth at a recent gig at Midnight Rodeo sounded so good that Johnson changed his mind.
Johnson & The Salt Cedar Rebels — whose current single, “This Is How We Texas,” is climbing state music charts — will celebrate the release of Bootlegged: Live from the Midnight Rodeo with a 10 p.m. Saturday show at the titular venue, 4400 S. Georgia St.
“It’s just an honest-to-God bootleg recording of a show we did,” Johnson said.
“The reason that it means a lot to me is that a lot of the most famous shows of all time and a lot of the most incredible artists that shaped musical history (were captured live),” Johnson said. “It’s an honor to join those ranks — not to elevate our position at all but to feel connected to the musical greats that put music out like that, to get to say this is our raw, live performance – hope you like it.”
The six-track album features five previously unrecorded originals and a cover of Georgia Satellites’ “Keep Your Hands to Yourself.”
Cover is $6 for ages 21 and older or $10 for ages 18 to 20.
Acapulco Mexican Restaurant
El Trio Cortez will perform at 7 p.m. today at the downtown restaurant, 727 S. Polk St.
Amarillo Botanical Gardens
The Music in the Gardens series continues with Insufficient Funds at 7 p.m. June 23; doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for nonmembers and $5 for members.
Amarillo College
The annual June Jazz concert series continues with Polk Street Jazz. The free concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on the mall in front of the AC Experimental Theatre on the Washington Street campus. Can't make it to the show in person? We'll live-stream it on KACV FM90.
Austin’s Texas Pub
DJ John Palcio will spin tracks at 10 p.m. today, and tropical-country singer Donny Brewer will perform at 10 p.m. Saturday at the bar, 3121 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover on Saturday is $5.
Bracero’s
Pete Y Los Releros will perform at 6:30 p.m. at the restaurant, 2822 S.W. Sixth Ave.
Downtown Canyon
The June Jams concert series continues with Americana band Strangetowne on June 23. Concerts are held on the southeast lawn of the Randall County Courthouse at Fifth Avenue and 16th Street. Bring a lawn chair or blankets, along with food and beverages. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and are free.
The 806
Singer-songwriter Shelby Lanterman will perform at 9:30 p.m. today at the coffee shop, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave. Also performing in the next several days are alt-country singer Michael Leonard Witham at 9 p.m. Saturday and rock band Daily Grind at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Shows are free, but donations are accepted.
FireSlice Pizzeria
The weekly FireSongs songwriters series welcomes Dear Marsha for a 6:30 p.m. June 22 show at the restaurant, 7306 S.W. 34th Ave., Suite 10. The shows are free, but you'll want to enjoy some slices along with the tunes.
575 Pizzeria
Folk singer Andy Chase performs at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the local pizza franchise’s original location, 2803 Civic Circle.
La Frontera
Los Cuatros Compadres will perform at 6:30 p.m. today at the restaurant, 1401 S. Arthur St.
Gerb’s Wurst Bar
Country band Next to Kin will perform at 9 p.m. today and Saturday at the bar and restaurant, 7145 S. Bell St.
Golden Light Cantina
Amarillo favorites Eddie & The Eat and Playa Lake will team up with Austin singer-songwriter Daniel Thomas Phipps for a 9 p.m. Friday show at the cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover is $7. That’s followed by the return of The Tejas Brothers for a sure-to-be-raucous show at 10 p.m. Saturday; cover is $12. Then, chill down with a 6 p.m. Sunday show featuring folkies Jacob Metcalf (Fox and the Bird), Randy Palmer and The DustJackets; cover is $5. And finally, singer-songwriter David Tribble will perform at 10 p.m. June 23.; cover is $5.
High Noon on the Square
Center City of Amarillo's summer series continues at noon Wednesday with a performance by the Summer Youth Musical cast of The Music Man on the lawn of the Potter County Courthouse, Sixth Avenue and Tyler Street in downtown Amarillo. Lunch service begins at 11:45 a.m. with tortas from La Fiesta Grande; lunch is $8, but the performance is free.
Hoot’s Pub
Singer-songwriter Red Shahan will return to town for a 10 p.m. show today at the bar, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover is $7 or free for women. And, as you saw in my feature earlier this week, Amarillo native and rock icon Joe Ely will come home for an intimate show at 10 p.m. Saturday; cover is $15. And, looking ahead a little further, popular Texas/Americana act Folk Family Revival will hit town for a 10 p.m. Wednesday show; cover is $5 or free for women.
House Bar
Dave Regal and Josh Fitch will join forces for a 10 p.m. show today at the bar, 1219 S.W. 10th Ave. The show is free.
Joe Daddy’s
Amarillo favorites Anderson, Flesher & Key will perform at 8 p.m. today at the restaurant, 2108 Paramount Blvd.
Joe Taco
Music on the patio at the popular Mexican eatery, 7312 Wallace Blvd., will include Ray Wilson at 7 p.m. today, Lindsey Blackwell at 6 p.m. Sunday, Mike Fuller at 6 p.m. Wednesday and Dan Patterson at 6 p.m. June 23.
Leftwood’s
As you hopefully saw in my feature earlier this week, funk/soul band Roxy Roca will rock out around 10 p.m. today at the bar, 2511 S.W. Sixth Ave. Cover is $7.
Napoli’s Italian Restaurant
Andy Chase will play around 7 p.m. today on the patio of the restaurant, 700 S. Taylor St., followed at 7 p.m. Saturday by James Owens.
Pescarez
Folk singers Yvonne Perea and Tennessee Tuckness will perform separate shows at 6:30 p.m. today and Saturday at the restaurant, 3415 S. Bell St., Suite K.
Sixth Street Saloon
Amarillo country band Kilo Road will play at 9 p.m. today and Saturday at the bar, 609 S. Independence St. Cover is $3 today and $5 Saturday.
Smokey Joe’s
As part of the Texas Route 66 Festival celebrations, the restaurant, located at 2503 S.W. Sixth Ave., will have a full day of bands on Saturday: Lucid Moment at 1 p.m., Mesquite County at 2 p.m., Loaded Six at 3 p.m., Skeleton Krew at 4 p.m., Bone Head at 5 p.m., Da Boogiemen at 6 p.m. and Moon Dog at 8 p.m.
Skooterz
Lubbock rock band Plan B will play at 10 p.m. today at the bar, 4100 Bushland Blvd., followed by Hangman at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Starlight Theatre
The Prairie Dogs will perform at the fourth concert in this year's series from Amarillo Parks and Recreation. The band will kick off at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Sam Houston Park, Line Avenue and Western Street. Admission is free.
Whiskey River
The Buster Bledsoe Band, an Amarillo-based Texas country act, will play at 10 p.m. today at the bar, 4001 S.W. 51st Ave. And at 10 p.m. Saturday, catch J.W. Lane & County Road X. Cover is $7 both nights.
Zombiez Bar & Grill
A daunting lineup of metal bands will rock out the bar, 711 S.W. 10th Ave., in a heavy-duty show tonight. Headliners are The Order of Elijah and Scarlet Canary, with local support from Cidal, The Ambrosia Scheme and The Red Parallax. Cover is $5; doors open at 8 p.m.
Open mics
Maggie Burt hosts an open jam at 9 p.m. Tuesdays at Hoot’s Pub. …Trent Britten hosts at 8 p.m. Tuesdays at Sixth Street Saloon, 609 S. Independence St. … Thomas Thompson hosts an open-mic night at 9 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at The 806, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave. … Mike Chism and Lee Scheetz host open mic nights at 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Whiskey River, 4001 S.W. 51st Ave. … Clint Culwell hosts open mics at 9 p.m. Thursdays at Austin’s Texas Pub.
(Thanks to Amarillo Music Scene on Facebook for help in compiling these. Check there for daily updates.)
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and at www.facebook.com/chipchandlerwriter on Facebook.
