Last night I was blessed to spend some time with everyone’s favorite Uncle, Tio Bruce and his better half , miss Lorraine.
I began following Bruce Newman @TioBruce on Twitter a few years ago on Twitter. Since those first encounters we have become real life friends. The first time I met him off of the bird, we were in Cheatham Street to see Zach Welch, Payton Matous, Kade Anson, Colton Mathis , and Jacob Ryan Marshall.
Bruce, who has lived all across the country now resides near San Antonio, Tx. He moved to Texas for it’s music. Bruce is the curator of The Greatest Playlist in Texas and Hence the World on Spotify. I have watched this list grow to hours of the kind of music that I love to listen to. He is a huge supporter of the music scene. He’s always wearing a band Tee of the newest or hottest bands from Texas and beyond. His quaint home was decorated with band posters from across the country.
Bruce told me last night he has seen his favorite band American Aquarium at least 5 times. He shared about seeing Shane Smith and the Saints in a tent at a PBR event in Las Vegas, a show he called one of his all time favorites. His favorite bright yellow tee? The one adorned with the Vandoliers scorpion.
Bruce is always out to support the little guys and their sounds he spent the last Galleywinter fest with Seth Jones and his lovely wife Samantha. He loves guys like South Texas Tweek, Zach Welch, Matt Moran and Will Payne Harrison. If it’s not a band from Texas, OK or Louisiana, than it’s gotta be Nashvilles own Shelby Lowe or Kurt Fortmeyer. All of these guys music can be found on Bruce’s playlist and more.
Guy Clark and Jerry Jeff Walker- are Bruce’s all time favorite songwriters and he loves everyone between.
I have always been a huge fan of all sorts of music. A favorite part of my life is to see the music that I love in a live setting. This past weekend I did just that. Seeing Zach Welch perform “Drunkin’ Ramblins’” from the Cheatham Street stage is a moment I will not soon or probably never forget. Fellow Texas Music fan and the Curator of the best Spotify playlist I have ever heard, “The Greatest Playlist in Texas and Hence the World,” Bruce Newman, told me early on that Zach Welch should be selling out theaters maybe even stadiums. I think that his song Drunkin Ramblins is the modern day version of Garth’s Friends in Low Places. I think Zach Welch should be selling out arenas.
“This is my life, these are my friends” as Josh Abbot so simply penned in a Panhandlers song.
My girlfriend and I left the desert scape of Midland, Texas for the weekend and made the trip to a lush and green oasis of San Marcos, Texas. We took this trip entirely for the purpose of seeing Zach Welch and his Fulk Band play their brand of music. When we arrived at the venue, Cheatham Street Warehouse we almost immediately realized we had made this trip to see our friends. The group of guys that were there to play welcomed us and made us feel at home. Everyone from the musicians to the other fans attending the event showed us how appreciative they were that we’d come together in that moment in time. We had a great night met a great group of folks and made memories that we will share from now on. She and I are still relatively new on our own journey together, this weekend we conquered many firsts. Our first concert together, our first dance- which was to Jacob Ryan Marshall’s cover of a King George song- “UnWound.”
Welch’s music, A brand I have come to love this last few years. This ain’t quite country but it’s damn sure not rock. It is music that makes sense through the lyrics that make sense to me. Some of Zach’s lyrics are so relatable and parallel to my own life.
Zach Welch- Cheatham Street Warehouse 4/30/22
Opening the show that night were Jacob Ryan Marshall and Colton Mathis. Prior to the event , singer/songwriter Seth Jones had informed me that Colton was the one to watch. His music was so clear and crisp and his lyrics so tried and true. My buddy known on Twitter by his handle as TxRiverTonk of KZSM radio in San Marcos remarked how well the duo of Marshall and Mathis complimented each other during their song swap. I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. Mathis will be releasing his newest music, “fight” on May 4th of this year.
Jacob Ryan Marshall and Colton Mathis Cheatham Street 4/30/22
Besides seeing Zach, Jacob, and Colton, I also got to meet in person Kade Anson, and Payton Matous who are both great songwriters and members of the Texas music scene. One of the highlights of the night was when Zach Welch invited them both onto the stage to perform some of their own music. Kade who now resides in the Hill country has some West Texas sounds in his guitar from his days as a Red Raider on the Cap-Rock in Lubbock.
Peyton Matous Cheatham Street 4/30/22Kade Anson Cheatham Street 4/30/22
Another great part of the evening was meeting the newest addition to Zach Welch’s band. Fiddler, Jason Harrell made phenomenal sounds come out of his strings. Harrell is A Texas country musician who is confident enough to show up to play countrified music in a Megadeath Shirt. Harrell also has some events lined up later this summer to play his fiddle for South Texas Tweek.
We came as strangers, although many of us have followed each other on social media for some time, the introduction seemed as if we had known each other forever, and we left as friends even more solid in our bonds as lovers of Texas music.
Me and Jacob Ryan Marshall
We didn’t have to say goodbye we just said I’ll see ya down the road. I’ll be listening for ya on the radio.
